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Written Answers to Questions

Friday 9 March 2007

Transport

A50: Noise

Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been made of when the concrete surface of the A50 Doveridge bypass will (a) reach end-of-life and (b) be resurfaced; and what the cost of resurfacing will be. [126100]

Dr. Ladyman: Roads with concrete surfaces such as the A50 at Doveridge are surveyed at regular intervals and any deterioration that is identified is used to prepare and prioritise appropriate maintenance works. The present condition of the surface of the A50 Doveridge bypass does not suggest a need for resurfacing for the foreseeable future, so no scheme is currently, programmed. Estimates of cost of any such scheme would only be made once work is programmed.

A50: Road Traffic

Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimated traffic volumes were used in the planning stage of the A50 Doveridge bypass; what the volume is for the A50 Doveridge bypass; and whether there are any other concrete stretches of the national trunk road network subject to similar traffic volumes. [126097]

Dr. Ladyman: Information on the estimated traffic volumes used at the planning stage of the A50 Doveridge bypass is archived and can only be retrieved at a disproportionate cost. The annual average daily traffic flow figure for the Doveridge bypass, taken from 2005, the latest year for which figures are available, is 42,051 vehicles.

Other concrete lengths of carriageway on the trunk road network with traffic volumes within 10 per cent. of those at the A50 Doveridge bypass are listed below:

Departments: Renewable Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what strategy he has put in place for (a) the use of renewable energy and (b) meeting energy targets in his Department's buildings; and if he will make a statement. [125400]


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Gillian Merron: On 12 June 2006 my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced new sustainable operations targets for the Government Estate. The new targets include a specific commitment on energy:

Government Departments are mandated within the new targets to source at least 10 per cent. of electricity from renewables (such as wind, wave, tidal, solar, thermal and photovoltaics (PV’s)) by March 2008* and at least 15 per cent. of electricity from Combined Heat and Power (2010). These targets are a continuation of an existing operations targets, originally set in 2003.

In 2005-06 (the latest data available) the Department sourced 66.47 per cent. of its electricity from renewable sources. 10 per cent. of our electricity was sourced from Good Quality Heat and Power during the same period.

In order to improve further, the Department has commissioned a report to evaluate its plans for meeting this target across the estate and gain an estimate of their impact in terms of CO(2) reductions. We are also seeking specialist advice on additional common and site-specific measures which could be rolled out in order to further improve CO(2) reductions, for example setting up Energy Conservation Programmes.

Driving Instruction

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the (a) merits and (b) potential effect on the incidence of road (i) injuries and (ii) deaths of introducing a minimum driver learning period of 12 months. [124202]

Dr. Ladyman: The report on the second review of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy was published on 26 February. That includes proposals for a fundamental review of the way the training of new drivers is approached so that it is more relevant to today’s conditions and roads. The aim is to produce drivers who can drive safely in the broadest sense, not just know how to control a car, and how that can provide the basis for lifelong learning. There will be a consultation in due course. The review is available on-line at:

The last time the issue of a minimum learning period was considered was in the Department's consultation “Introducing a structured approach to learning to drive” of March 2002—available at:

The decision in 2004 following that consultation was not to require a minimum learning period. Requiring such a period is no guarantee that it would be used as intended. In addition there was evidence that it was taking longer to learn to drive anyway following the strengthening of the driving test. Research has found that learners take on average 11 months of learning before passing the test.


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Driving: Licensing

Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of new arrivals to the UK applied for a British driving licence in the required time period in each of the last 10 years; and how his Department identifies (a) individuals who are required to apply for such a licence and (b) whether they have done so. [126180]

Dr. Ladyman: The percentage of new arrivals to the UK who subsequently apply for a full or provisional GB licence at the appropriate time is not known.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is unable to identify these drivers individually. Information about the cessation of the right to drive after 12 months unless a GB licence is granted is available on the DVLA website (www.dvla.gov.uk) in print form from DVLA or post offices (leaflet D100) or via DVLA's inquiry centre—number 0870 024 0009.

Heathrow Airport: Noise

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2007, Official Report, columns 1245-46W, on Heathrow Airport: noise, if he will break down the figures for the last five years by aircraft operator. [126467]

Gillian Merron: The Department does not hold information at this level of detail although it is collected by BAA Heathrow when monitoring compliance with departure noise limits. I have asked BAA Heathrow to write to the hon. Member.

Highways Agency: Vehicles

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average cost of a Highways Agency traffic officer patrol car was in the last 12 months. [124122]

Dr. Ladyman: The average cost of a Traffic Officer patrol car in the last 12 months was £13,736.40. This includes the lease hire cost of the vehicle and the maintenance costs. Maintenance costs include servicing, out of warranty repairs and replacement tyres.

M6: Repairs and Maintenance

Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the internal review document of safety options for the maintenance work which is being carried out at junction 9 of the M6 motorway. [126007]

Dr. Ladyman: The closure of the southbound entry slip road at junction 9 of the M6 is associated with maintenance work being carried out at junction 8, the Ray Hall Interchange. It is designed as a safety measure to reduce lane change manoeuvres on the approach to the roadworks. The closure was recommended in internal working documents on traffic management options prepared on behalf of the Highways Agency by its agents, AmeyMouchel. The documents are available from the Highways Agency at No. 5, Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1BL.


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Motor Vehicles: Petrol Alternatives

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he makes available to businesses wishing to switch their vehicle fleet to a more environmentally-friendly fuel source. [126383]

Dr. Ladyman: The Department for Transport provides a grant for the Energy Saving Trust (EST) to run a Fleet Advice Programme. This programme provides a free Green Fleet Review consultancy for any business in England with a fleet of over fifty vehicles. This advice would include consideration of more environmentally-friendly fuel sources. EST also provides advice to all businesses on how to have a more environmentally friendly fleet through a telephone advice line and through the EST website.

Railways: Franchises

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications of the staging of the 2012 Olympics for decisions on the extension of c2c's franchise beyond 2011. [125498]

Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 6 March 2007]: No assessment or decision has yet been made on this issue. The Department is mindful of the current end date of the franchise and its relationship to 2012 Olympic Games.

Road Traffic

Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the traffic volume is for each concrete stretch of the national trunk road network. [126098]

Dr. Ladyman: The following table gives the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) data for each concrete surfaced section of the all purpose national trunk road network for 2005.


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Route Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) Percentage HGV

A5 Knowl Hill, Milton Keynes

35,699

A11 Barton Mills Bypass, Suffolk

38,100

A11 Wymondham Bypass, Norfolk

35,400

A11 Wymondham to A47 Thickthorn, Norfolk

35,400

A12 Chelmsford Bypass, Essex

62,000

A12 Hatfield Peverel and Witham (South), Essex

78,700

A12 Margaretting Bypass, Essex

73,100

A12 Rivenhall End and Kelvedon Bypass, Essex

78,700

A12 Stanway Bypass, Essex

87,800

A13

(1)82,000

A14 Haughley New Street Bypass, Suffolk

40,200

A14 Ipswich South-Eastern Bypass (Orwell Bridge to Levington), Suffolk

53,400

A14 Ipswich South-Western Bypass (Copdock to Orwell Bridge), Suffolk

53,400

A14 Ipswich Western Bypass (Claydon to Copdock), Suffolk

47,000

A19 Billingham Bypass

37,400

17

A30 Honiton to Exeter

28,500

A30 Longrock

23,500

A30 Whiddon Down

22,700

A35 Tolpuddle/Puddletown

25,000

A46 Willoughby-on-the-Wolds to Six Hills—dual carriageway Nearest town—Between Bingham and Leicester County—Leicestershire

24,000

A47 Dereham Bypass

22,000

A52 Bottesford Bypass—single carriageway Nearest town—Between Radcliffe-on-Trent and Grantham County—Leicestershire

16,500

A63—A63 between A1034 and A15

36,100

18

A63—A63 between A1079 and A1165

No AADT Data

A63—A63 between A1079 and A1166

52,900

15

A120 Colchester Eastern Bypass

13,200

A120 Wix Bypass

13,200

A160—A160 between A1077 and A180

12,000

44

A180—A180 between A1136 and A1173

30,300

16

A180—A1 80 between A1136 and A180

30,800

15

A180—A180 between A1173 and A160

22,100

19

A180—A180 between A160 and M180 J5

No AADT Data

A303 between A356 and A358 (WB)

12,595

A303 between A358 and A356 (E/B)

12,996

A419/A417 DBFO concrete carriageway

29,894

A483 Pulford Island to Welsh Border

No Count information for 2005, AADT 2004 was 48,700

(1) No AADT available. Figure provided is an actual traffic flow for October 2005.

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