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Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorists in the UK are using non-UK or EC/EEA licences. [118301]

Dr. Ladyman: Information is not available on the total number of motorists in the UK driving on the strength of a non-UK/EC/EEA licence.

Executive Agencies

Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the executive agencies of his Department have regional offices outside London. [116732]

Gillian Merron: The following Department for Transport Executive agencies have offices outside London:

M60: Litter

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how frequently the verges and carriageway of the M60 from Stockport—J24 Denton are cleaned of litter and detritus. [119494]

Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency is obliged, by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to remove litter from motorways, including the central reservations, verges, and embankments. This arrangement has regard to the nature and use of the highway, and the need to limit disruption to traffic. To comply with the Act, which specifies, through a supplementary code of practice, standards of cleanliness and response times, the agency undertakes a regime of sweeping and litter picking on the M60 motorway.

Litter picking on the verges and embankments is undertaken at three-monthly intervals on the M60. The offside lane and central reserve are also routinely swept and litter-picked every three months.

The hard shoulders are swept every two months. Where the agency’s daily routine inspections identify a particular problem, additional litter picking and sweeping is undertaken.

The high winds of 18 January scattered litter across vegetation and against motorway fencing and safety barriers, making it even more visually intrusive. The agency responded by increasing the scale of its litter picking activities.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many tax discs have been applied for on line in each of the last three years. [118295]

Dr. Ladyman: The number of tax discs applied for on line for each of the last three years is as follows:


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Number

2004-05

178,696

2005-06

1,403.481

2006-07(1)

4,935,407

(1) To date.


Figures include applications for both internet and automated telephone service.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many tax discs ordered on line were reported as lost in the post in each of the last three years. [118297]

Dr. Ladyman: Of the 6,518,121 tax discs despatched through DVLA's electronic vehicle re-licensing (EVL), 52,326—0.8 per cent.—were reported as undelivered. Figures refer to tax discs not delivered within five working days after posting, so this figure may be over-inflated.

Motorways: Housing

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) people and (b) children living within 500 metres of a motorway, broken down by constituency. [119396]

Dr. Ladyman: Such an estimate has not been made.

Ports: Planning Permission

Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which port authorities have applied for an increase in capacity in each of the last 10 years; which of those applications were successful; how many applications were successful following an appeal; what the infrastructure costs were of such projects which were implemented; and how those costs were met. [118649]

Dr. Ladyman: Since 1998 the Department has approved Harbour Works Orders for development in England and Wales at the following locations:

Location

1998

Birkenhead

1998

Bristol City Docks

1999

Portsmouth

1999

Poole

2000

Portsmouth

2000

Burry Port

2000

Watchet

2001

Torbay

2002

Felixstowe

2002

Liverpool

2004

Teignmouth

2004

Immingham

2004

Liverpool

2005

Great Yarmouth

2006

Hull

2006

Ipswich

2006

North Killingholme


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The Department gave approval in 2006 to development at Felixstowe and Bathside Bay with consequent Orders pending and a minded to decision in 2005 in favour of development at Shellhaven (London Gateway). Applications currently with the Department for development are from Penzance, Isles of Scilly, Immingham, Teesport, and Mersey (Seaforth).

During the period one application, at Dibden Bay, was refused. The Department has no information about project costs as these are met by the applicants.

Railway Stations: Milton Keynes

Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the lifts at Milton Keynes Central railway station multi-storey car park will be repaired. [119869]

Mr. Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail, the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question:

Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions for disabled car drivers have been put in place whilst the lifts at Milton Keynes Central railway station multi-storey car park are not working. [119870]

Mr. Tom Harris: The disabled car parking spaces at Milton Keynes Central railway station are at ground level and so Silverlink, the Station Facility Operator, does not implement any special measures when the car park lifts are not in operation.

Railway Stations: North East Region

Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department plans to take to re-open railway station halts, with particular reference to stations between Sunderland and Middlesbrough. [119229]

Mr. Tom Harris: The Department does not have any plans to re-open railway stations between Middlesbrough and Sunderland, however the North East Regional Planning Assessment does make reference to the possibility at growth locations subject to external funding for proposals.

The Department will consider proposals for new stations which are supported by Local Transport Plans and include a fully worked up business case.

Railways: Morecambe

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding is available to improve rail services on the Lancaster/Morecambe line. [118550]


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Mr. Tom Harris: There are no plans to change the rail service on the Lancaster/Morecambe line.

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will encourage the relevant train operators to provide more direct train services from Manchester and Preston to Morecambe. [118551]

Mr. Tom Harris: There are no plans to encourage train operators to provide more direct train services from Manchester and Preston to Morecambe.

Railways: Summer Heat

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to prevent rail-tracks from becoming inoperative due to the heat from the sun during the summer. [118927]

Mr. Tom Harris: The performance of the rail network is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail infrastructure. For a response to his question, my hon. Friend should contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the following address:

Railways: Theft

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of delays and disruptions on the railway caused by the theft of copper signal cabling and other equipment in the last 12 months. [119909]

Mr. Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. My hon. Friend should contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question.

Road Traffic Control

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the merits of the introduction of red route measures to key transport corridors in the cities outside London; and if he will make a statement. [119493]

Gillian Merron: It is the responsibility of individual traffic authorities to consider and implement traffic management measures that are appropriate for local conditions. The Department is involved where a local authority requests capital funding for transport infrastructure.


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West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive successfully applied for major project funding for the introduction of red routes. Before approval was awarded the scheme underwent a full economic appraisal to assess the benefits and value for money.

The scheme was fully approved in 2004 and is currently being implemented. Once complete, monitoring and evaluation will establish its effectiveness.

School Transport: Lancashire

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on taxis to transport pupils to and from school by Lancashire county council in each of the last five years; and how many children were transported to and from school by taxis provided by Lancashire county council during that period. [118925]

Gillian Merron: The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested. Contact is advised with the following individual who will be pleased to assist: Tony Moreton, Head of Passenger Transport, Lancashire County Council, Tel: 01772 530 714.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which regulations govern average speed direction cameras; whether transport authorities are required (a) to notify the public of their intentions to install them and (b) to erect signs warning drivers who are approaching a stretch of road where they are in use; and if he will make a statement. [120034]

Dr. Ladyman: The use of time over distance speed cameras within the National Safety Camera Programme is governed by the Handbook of Rules and Guidance for the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales for 2006-07. Traffic authorities are not obliged to notify the public of their intention to install such equipment, but safety cameras partnerships are encouraged to publicise the location of all cameras and the type of system used. The conspicuity rules in the handbook require traffic authorities to place camera warning signs at all camera sites operating within the national programme. To help the public understand that time over distance enforcement is taking place, the Department has specially authorised authorities to use an ‘average speed check’ camera warning sign at time over distance camera sites.

Under the new guidance for the deployment of speed and red light cameras issued on 31 January, after 1 April 2007 local authorities, the police and other local partners will have greater freedom and flexibility in the deployment of safety cameras, and are expected to continue the existing proactive communication and conspicuity arrangements.


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