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19 Feb 2007 : Column 372W—continued
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to encourage local authorities to reduce energy consumption in relation to street lighting. [121114]
Dr. Ladyman: Provision of street lighting on local roads in England is a matter for individual local highway authorities, who decide on the service level to provide based upon their own local circumstances.
The Department endorses “Well-lit Highways”, the code of practice on highway lighting management (December 2004, TSO) published by the UK Lighting Board. The board, in conjunction with the Institution of Lighting Engineers, has also produced “Invest to Save”, which provides guidance to local authorities considering adopting energy saving measures such as dimming or mid-night switching-off of lights. The effects of reducing lighting levels or turning lights off will vary from case-to-case. Any financial or environmental savings from reduced energy use would have to be balanced against potential adverse effects, for example on accidents or crime.
Roads: Snow and Ice
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) snow-ploughs and (b) salt-spreading vehicles are available for clearing roads in Lancashire. [121216]
Dr. Ladyman:
The provision of winter service equipment for non trunk roads in Lancashire is the responsibility
of the county council, and the information requested, in relation to those roads, is not held centrally. The Department endorses “Well-maintained Highways”, the code of practice for highways maintenance (TSO, July 2005), published by the UK Roads Board. This encourages local highway authorities to develop a winter service operational plan, and to ensure that resources are available to deliver it.
The Highways Agency manages the trunk roads in Lancashire. The Agency has 48 salt-spreaders, all of which are fitted with snow ploughs, available for use in Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside.
Roads: Suffolk
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many road traffic accidents occurred on the A14 in Suffolk in each year since 1997, broken down by the day of the week on which the accident occurred; [119933]
(2) how many road traffic accidents occurred in Suffolk in each year since 1997, broken down by the day of the week on which the accident occurred. [119934]
Dr. Ladyman: The number of reported personal injury road accidents on the A14 in Suffolk and in the county of Suffolk in each year from 1997 to 2005 is given in the following tables.
| Number of road accidents, by day of the week on the A14 in Suffolk, 1997- 2005 | |||||||
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
| Number of road accidents, by day of the week: Suffolk, 1997- 2005 | |||||||
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many road traffic (a) accidents and (b) fatalities occurred on the A14 in Suffolk between the hours of 8pm and 8am in each year since 1997; [119935]
(2) how many road traffic (a) accidents and (b) fatalities occurred in Suffolk between the hours of 8pm and 8am in each year since 1997. [119936]
Dr. Ladyman:
The number of reported personal injury road accidents and the resulting fatalities on the A14 in Suffolk and the county of Suffolk between the
hours of 8 pm and 8 am in each year from 1997-2005 is given in the following tables.
| Number of road accidents and fatalities on the A14 in Suffolk between the hours of 8 pm and 8 am: 1997-2005 | ||
| Accidents | Fatalities | |
| Number of road accidents and fatalities in Suffolk between the hours of 8 pm and 8 am: 1997-2005 | ||
| Accidents | Fatalities | |
Taxis
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on (a) increased regulation of private hire vehicles and (b) restrictions on their use of bus lanes. [121009]
Gillian Merron: Central Government is responsible for the legislative framework for the regulation of private hire vehicles (PHVs), though individual local licensing authorities have discretion over the detailed rules and standards which apply in each local area. Following consultation last year, we have produced best practice guidance to assist local authorities in this regard (this guidance is on the Department’s website). From time to time we receive representations either about decisions made locally or suggesting changes to the relevant legislation.
During the passage of the Road Safety Bill last year, we received a range of comments on our decisions to repeal what is known as the ‘contract exemption’ from the PHV licensing requirement and to introduce a power for local licensing authorities to be able to immediately suspend or revoke a taxi or PHV driver’s licence if they consider this necessary in the interests of public safety. Subsequently, in response to a consultation with stakeholders, we received a number of views on the timing of the coming into force of contract exemption repeal.
We have received a small number of representations about restrictions on PHVs using bus lanes, including the M4 bus lane. Any decision to allow PHVs to use bus lanes on local roads outside London falls to the local highway authority. Within London, TfL have responsibility for decisions on the issue.
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