| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
9 Oct 2006 : Column 237W—continued
A2
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) minor and (b) serious accidents occurred on the A2 in Bexley Borough in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005. [90024]
Dr. Ladyman: The number of (a) slight and (b) serious personal injury road accidents reported to the police that occurred on the A2 in Bexley borough in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005 is given in the table.
| Accidents by severity on A2 in Bexley borough: 2004-05 | ||
| Severity | 2004 | 2005 |
| Source: TfL London Road Safety Unit. | ||
A21
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Highways Agency has to hold a public consultation on the proposed A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Robertsbridge; and if he will make a statement. [90251]
Dr. Ladyman: A public consultation was held from November 2002 to March 2003 on proposals to upgrade the A21 between Tonbridge to Pembury, Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst and Flimwell to Robertsbridge.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Highways Agency spent on public consultations on the proposed A21 upgrade in 2005; and if he will make a statement. [90252]
Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency's costs on public consultations for the proposed A21 upgrade in 2005 was nil. Public consultation on this scheme was in previous years.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role the Highways Agency has in issuing draft orders for the proposed A21 upgrade; and if he will make a statement. [90253]
Dr. Ladyman: We announced our response to the advice from the south east region about its major scheme priorities to 2011 on 6 July. As part of this, we have accepted the region's advice to include the A21 Tonbridge Bypass to Pembury Dualling, the A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst Bypass and the A21 Baldslow Junction Improvement within the programme of schemes that we expect to be taken forward in the south east in the next five years, subject to the completion of all the statutory procedures, available funding and compliance with the Department's scheme appraisal requirements.
The Highways Agency will publish draft Orders on behalf of the Secretary of State in accordance with the individual scheme programmes.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many public complaints the Highways Agency has received regarding compulsory purchase orders along the route of the proposed A21 upgrade. [90254]
Dr. Ladyman: No Compulsory Purchase Orders have been published for the route of the proposed A21 upgrade.
A3
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make his final decision regarding the A3 tunnel improvement scheme. [92190]
Dr. Ladyman: The responses to the public consultation on the cost increase of the published scheme and its change in economic benefits, referred to in the interim letter of 20 July 2006, are currently being considered. A final decision will be issued as soon as possible.
A303
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements have been made to facilities for users of the A303 in each of the last five years for which records are available. [92049]
Dr. Ladyman: Interpreting facilities to mean rest areas, there have been improvements to three picnic sites listed:
2005-06: Improvements made to disabled access. New tables with hard standings for wheelchairs were installed and parking bays were improved.
2004-05: Courtyard was extended and cafe facilities were updated.
2002-03: A Tourist Centre was built by a partnership of the Highways Agency and South Somerset District Council.
2001-02: Toilets were cosmetically refurbished.
Devonshire House, near the A30 junction:
2003-04: Public conveniences were permanently removed due to vandalism and to deter regularly reported incidents of antisocial behaviour.
Willoughby Hedge, north of Shaftesbury:
2005-06: New public conveniences were installed.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements are planned to facilities for users of the A303. [92050]
Dr. Ladyman: Interpreting facilities to mean rest areas, proposals are in place to improve the Buck Services at Longparish on the eastbound carriageway of the A303, east of Andover. Access improvements from the A303 are planned and will be funded by the developer.
A36
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his proposals for the relief of congestion on the A36(T) between College Roundabout in Salisbury and the start of the A36(T) dual carriageway at Petersfinger; and if he will make a statement. [89209]
Dr. Ladyman: The Secretary of State has no proposals for the A36 at this location.
Officials in the Highways Agency have recently been consulted by Salisbury district council about a planning application submitted by Wiltshire county council for a park and ride site at Petersfinger which is designed to relieve congestion on this section of the A36.
In July officials notified Salisbury district council that they were satisfied the park and ride scheme could be implemented without compromising safety on the A36 road thereby opening the way for the planning application to be decided.
The timing of any consent and subsequent construction of the park and ride site is now a matter for Salisbury district and Wiltshire county councils respectively. Wiltshire will also need to reach agreement with the Highways Agency about funding for the works to be carried out on the A36 required to implement any consent.
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date in 1997 the announcement was made, that the A36(T) Salisbury Bypass would not be proceeded with; and by whom. [89210]
Dr. Ladyman: The announcement was made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, East (Dr. Strang), the then Minister of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 34-35.
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the recent decision not to proceed with the Wylye Valley Relief Road, the Salisbury Brunel Link Road and the Harnham Relief Road, if he will review the need for the proposed A36(T) Salisbury Bypass; what criteria he will apply to future decisions about roads in the Salisbury area; and if he will make a statement. [89654]
Dr. Ladyman: The Secretary of State has no plans to review the need for the A36(T) Salisbury Bypass.
The A36 is part of the “non core” network and caters more for regional and local needs. It is in the process of being de-trunked (i.e. management transferred to the local highway authorities). Until it has been detrunked, the Highways Agency retains responsibility for its maintenance and any safety improvements to it. Any other improvements in the Salisbury area would need to be promoted by Wiltshire county council.
If Wiltshire county council decided to promote such a scheme, the South West region would need to determine its position within their priorities for major transport infrastructure within a specified regional funding allocation (RFA). The Secretary of State would then consider the advice in light of available funding.
Departmental Agency Staff
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what hourly rate his Department paid to employment agencies for agency staff in each year since 1999, broken down by agency. [89509]
Gillian Merron: The Department has call-off contracts with Adecco, Brook Street and Reed, who are contracted to provide temporary staff when required. This contract is also used by some of the Department's executive agencies. The following tables show the average hourly rates (across pay bands) for each agency. The information held is from 2002 onwards and hourly rates for each pay band are agreed with the agencies as part of their contract with the Department.
| London Rates | |||
| Adecco | Brook Street | Reed | |
| Regional Rates | |||
| Adecco | Brook Street | Reed | |
In addition some of the Department's executive agencies also use other agencies to provide temporary staff. Details of these are as follows:
Highways Agency—£13.19
| GCDA (£) | |
The use of temporary staff is something that the Department only considers to cover a short-term temporary period such as covering leave or while a permanent resource is found. The Department actively manages its headcount and will consider any displaced staff for temporary roles prior to obtaining a temporary agency worker.
Aircraft Noise
Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to introduce legislation to allow airport operators to fine aircraft operators who deviate from preferred noise route corridors. [92246]
Gillian Merron: Clauses 3 and 4 of the Civil Aviation Bill currently before Parliament will have this effect. A detailed explanation of the provisions is available in the Explanatory Notes to the Bill available in the Library of the House or on the internet at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldbills/021/en/06021x--.htm.
Airships
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the possibility of the commercial use of airships for the movement of (a) freight and (b) passengers in the United Kingdom. [92424]
Gillian Merron: No studies have been undertaken in this area, but there are no specific restrictions on such operations. Any proposals by commercial companies would be considered under the normal licensing requirements of the Air Navigation Order and European Licensing Regulations.
BAe 146
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 962W, on BAe 146 aircraft, what parts of the BAe 146 (a) engine and (b) auxiliary power unit were (i) designed and manufactured by sub-contractors and (ii) contain beryllium in any quantity. [91717]
Gillian Merron: Neither the Department for Transport nor the CAA hold this information. The BAe 146 engine and auxiliary power unit were manufactured in the United States and are US Type Certificated products. The Federal Aviation Authority may be able to assist.
Blue Badges
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many disabled persons’ blue badges have been issued in each local authority in 2006. [89784]
Gillian Merron: Information on the number of blue badges issued by individual local authorities in 2006 will be published on the DfT website on 19 October and I will write to the hon. Member with the data. Copies will also be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many disabled persons’ blue badges were issued in each local authority in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005. [89847]
Gillian Merron: Information about the number of successful new blue badge applications in the periods 2003-04 and 2004-05 will be placed in the House Library.
The Department for Transport has published information about the number of blue badges on issue by each local authority in England on its website for the periods to the end of March 2004 and to the end of March 2005. This information is already available in the House Library. Data on the number of blue badges on issue by each local authority to 31 March 2006 are due to be published on 19 October.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |