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31 Oct 2006 : Column 301W—continued
Northern Ireland Flights
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of (a) drunken and (b) disruptive behaviour were reported on flights to and from Northern Ireland's airports in each of the last three years; and what steps he is taking to address this problem. [96512]
Gillian Merron: The number of reportable disruptive passenger incidents involving flights to or from Northern Ireland for 2003, 2004 and 2005, including those involving alcohol, is shown in the table. This information is produced from statistics reported by UK airlines to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) through the Disruptive Passenger Reporting Scheme. Information for 2006 is in preparation and will be published in shortly.
| Number of reportable incidents | Number of reportable incidents involving alcohol | |
The Government and the CAA encourage all UK airlines to participate in this reporting scheme and to adopt a zero tolerance policy to make clear that disruptive behaviour on airline flights is not acceptable.
Rail Freight
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what tonnage of rail freight was carried in the last year for which figures are available; and what it was in 1997. [97269]
Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 26 October 2006]: The figures for tonnage are not held by the Department. However, in the financial years 1996-97 and 1997-98 goods moved by rail freight in Great Britain totalled 15.1 and 16.9 billion tonne kilometres, respectively. And in 2005-06 the equivalent figure was 22.11 billion tonne kilometres. These figures are published in "Rail Trends" by the Office of Rail Regulation, which is on its website www.rail-reg.gov.uk. A copy of this document is held in the House Library. This information supersedes my answer of 17 October 2006, Official Report, column 1128W.
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission a report on the safety implications of the recent incident that caused a train carrying nuclear waste from Hartlepool to be delayed in Sunderland station for four hours; and if he will make a statement. [98441]
Dr. Ladyman: The event at Sunderland was a minor incident that did not endanger the flask, its contents, the public or the environment in any way. There were no nuclear safety implications and therefore no reason for any investigation over and above any which the organisations involved would routinely carry out following abnormal events.
The transport of radioactive material, including irradiated nuclear fuel, is governed by the stringent internationally-agreed standards recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an agency appointed by the United Nations to oversee all aspects of the peaceful uses of atomic energy worldwide. During the period of over 40 years that the IAEA Regulations have been in existence, there has been no instance of death or serious injury to persons, nor significant damage to the environment, from radiological effects caused during the transport of radioactive material worldwide by all modes of transport when properly packaged and transported in conformity with these Regulations.
Irradiated nuclear fuel flasks are designed to withstand a very severe impact followed by severe fire. The safety of these movements is therefore secured by the design and build quality of the flasks used and not by the particular mode of transport used or route travelled.
Railways
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains were cancelled between October 2005 and October 2006, broken down by reason. [97830]
Mr. Tom Harris: The number of franchised passenger trains reported as cancelled in the year to August 2006 was 73,830. This represents 1.4 per cent. of the services planned to run.
The Department does not hold data relating to the reasons for each cancellation, or data relating to non-franchised train services.
Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation
Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from biofuels producers regarding the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation. [98646]
Dr. Ladyman: Ministers and officials are in regular contact with biofuel producers and other stakeholders about the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). We have taken careful account of their views in designing the scheme. We will formally consult biofuel producers and other stakeholders on the draft secondary legislation giving effect to the RTFO in early 2007.
Road Accidents
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrians have been (a) injured, (b) seriously injured and (c) killed in collisions with cyclists in each region for each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [98536]
Dr. Ladyman: The number of pedestrians injured in collisions with cyclists in each region for each of the last 12 months is given in the following table:
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