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8 May 2007 : Column 17W—continued
No staff at the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency are dedicated specifically to the detection of identity fraud.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving licences were reported as lost in the post in each of the last five years. [134803]
Dr. Ladyman: The information asked for is not held in the form requested.
Highway Code: Cycling
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account was taken of the views of cyclists in the consultation process for the new Highway Code. [135682]
Dr. Ladyman: Over 4,000 individuals responded to the consultation. About 70 per cent. of the responses were from cyclists. In view of the level of interest from cyclists I met with the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry), chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group on 7 September 2006.
In response to the views raised by respondents to the consultation, the rules for cyclists were amended. Some 30 other rules throughout the “Highway Code” were revised to add emphasis to the need for consideration of cyclists by other road users.
The view expressed by some that the “Highway Code” should omit the non-mandatory advice to cyclists about wearing helmets or high visibility clothing, was considered to be inappropriate on the grounds of the safety of cyclists. All road users have some responsibility for their own safety.
Lorries: Foreign Companies
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the level of compliance of foreign lorries with UK and EU safety regulations. [134716]
Dr. Ladyman: The most recent random survey of fleet condition undertaken by the Department's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is on their web site at www.vosa.gov.uk.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many illegally operating foreign lorries in the UK were impounded in each year since 2002. [134718]
Dr. Ladyman: VOSA have impounded 10 foreign registered vehicles, all within the last 12 months comprising of seven Belgian registered vehicles and three Dutch registered vehicles.
M1: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account of the likely effects on congestion was taken of the roadworks taking place north of junction 8 of the M1 when scheduling the dates of lane closures and roadworks taking place near junction 4 of the motorway; whether consideration was given to delaying the work near junction 4 until the completion of the work north of junction 8; and if he will make a statement. [136181]
Dr. Ladyman: Before scheduling the roadworks between junctions 4 and 5 of the M1, a detailed analysis of the traffic impact of these works was carried out. The analysis predicted minimal queuing and no significant queuing has been noted so far during the works.
The analysis took into account the fact that the two sets of works were about 13 kilometres apart: standard roadworks guidance recommends that there is a 10 kilometre gap between different sets of traffic management to minimise delays to road users. In addition, traffic levels between junctions 4 and 5 on the M1 are comparatively low at just over half those experienced on the M1 north of the M25.
The works between junctions 4 and 5 aim to rectify a safety issue as a number of fatal and injury accidents have been attributed to standing water at this location. That being so and sine the traffic analysis predicted minimal queuing, the conclusion was to carry out the work now rather than waiting until the end of 2008 when the major widening scheme is expected to be completed.
A number of steps have been taken to minimise delays to road users on the M1. Work is being carried out 24/7 to complete the scheme quickly and any lane closures required are being carried out when traffic levels are low. In addition the speed limit through the M1 widening scheme between junction 8 and 10 has recently been increased from 40 mph to 50 mph.
M42
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make an assessment of the road safety of the M42 pilot of hard shoulder running. [135926]
Dr. Ladyman: Hard shoulder running was introduced on the M42 on 12 September 2006. Due to the relatively low number of accidents that occur on motorways, at least three years of post accident data will be needed before a definitive overall conclusion can be reached on the impact of hard shoulder running on safety. Since hard shoulder running was introduced there have been no incidents that can be attributed to it.
Motor Vehicles: Registration
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many unregistered vehicles his Department estimates there are in the UK. [134712]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department has made no estimate of the number of unregistered vehicles in the United Kingdom, therefore, the information requested is not available.
Some vehicles, while not registered in the UK, will be registered in a foreign country. Action is under way to educate and, if necessary, to take enforcement action against users of foreign vehicles to ensure they properly register and license their vehicles when used in this country.
Other vehicles will be incorrectly registered due to failure of previous keepers to notify DVLA that they have disposed of them. The Department has introduced Continuous Registration which encourages the notification of changes of keepership by ensuring the registered keeper remains liable for the licensing of the vehicle. Enforcement action is also taken against such registration offenders.
Motorways: Birmingham
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend hard shoulder running to all the motorways around Birmingham. [135925]
Dr. Ladyman: On 18 December 2006, the Secretary of State announced that the introduction of Active Traffic Management (ATM) including hard shoulder running on specific sections of motorway around Birmingham showed potential to provide a significant benefit to national productivity and to demonstrate high value for money. The Highways Agency is continuing to work up the detailed business case for these schemes, which will be assessed against the criteria for the Transport Innovation Fund.
Consideration on the extension of hard shoulder running to other sections of motorway around Birmingham will need to be taken on a case by case basis, in the light of the results of monitoring the M42 ATM pilot scheme.
Ports: Felixstowe
Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the commercial impact of the new container charge imposed by the Port of Felixstowe. [135664]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 3 May 2007]: None. This is a commercial matter for Hutchison Ports UK and its customers.
Railways: Hull
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of the condition of the track between Hull and Scarborough on the possibility of running special excursion trains on that line; and if he will make a statement; [136222]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the condition of the train track running between Hull and Scarborough; and if he will make a statement. [136223]
Mr. Tom Harris: These are operational matters for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The right hon. Member should contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his questions.
John Armitt
Chief Executive
Network Rail
40 Melton Street
London NW1 2EE.
Railways: Passengers
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there has been in the level of use of (a) the Transpennine rail route and (b) the London to Brighton line since 1997. [131754]
Mr. Tom Harris: The number of passengers travelling on the Transpennine rail route has grown by over 35 per cent. during the period of the new franchise between 2004 and 2007, and is forecast to increase by 34 per cent. between now and 2012.
Passenger demand on the Brighton main line has grown by just over 30 per cent. during the period between 1995 and 2003 and is expected to grow by up to 27 per cent. between 2003 and 2011.
Both routes have benefited from recent investment. Examples are the introduction of new class 185 trains on Transpennine and the replacement of the entire fleet of slam door trains on the Brighton main line.
Road Signs
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost is of the electronic messaging signs of the kind being introduced on the M4 in Wiltshire. [134714]
Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency is introducing two types of electronic message signs on the M4 in Wiltshire. These are the Motorway Signal Mark 3 (MS3) and Motorway Signal Mark 4 (MS4).
The cost of each sign type installed on the scheme in Wiltshire includes the cost of the sign and supporting structure. These are as follows:
| Sign type | Cost (£) |
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) electronic messaging signs and (b) electronic variable messaging signs the Highways Agency has erected around its network in each of the last 10 years. [134715]
Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency has installed 2,034 electronic message signs around its network over the last 10 years (1997 to 2006). The number installed per year over this period, as recorded on the National Online Motorway Asset Database, is as follows:
| Number of signs installed | |
Separate numbers for electronic message signs and electronic variable message signs are not held on our systems.
Roads: Construction
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what environmental assessments are required as part of approval for road building schemes by his Department. [134637]
Dr. Ladyman: All road schemes require an appropriate level of environmental assessment in accordance with the guidance given in volume 11 of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (available at www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/index.htm) and in the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance (available at www.webtag.org.uk). All major schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvement and many local authority major road schemes publish an Environmental Statement in accordance with the requirements of part VA of the Highways Act 1980 (England or Wales), implementing EC Directive 85/337.
Roads: Tolls
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether road pricing schemes introduced by local authorities will incur a discount on (a) fuel duty and (b) vehicle excise duty [R]. [135982]
Dr. Ladyman: The guidance we published on 8 February for local authorities, on preparing business cases for local road pricing schemes, set out our position with regard to the use of revenues. We have concluded that any rebating of revenues back to users, such as through national taxes, would be inappropriate for local schemes. Instead local authorities should use revenues to complement other transport interventions they are planning as part of their Congestion TIF package.
Speed Limits
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to reinstate the requirement for local councils to have his approval before introducing 20 mph speed zones. [136224]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department encourages and supports using 20 mph zones in areas where vehicle speeds of 20 mph are considered appropriate. Local authorities are best placed to understand local needs and conditions. Therefore there are no plans to reinstate the requirement for local authorities to seek approval before introducing 20 mph speed limit zones.
Mr. Greg Knight:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has conducted or reviewed on the relative effectiveness of
part-time and permanent 20 miles per hour zones; and if he will make a statement. [136225]
Dr. Ladyman: Twenty mph zones are required to have traffic calming within their perimeter and are self-enforcing. Part time 20 mph speed limits tend to cover a single road only. The choice of which option to use is a matter for individual local traffic authorities.
The Transport Research Laboratory conducted two reviews of 20 mph zones in 1996 and again in 1998. The 1996 review found that self enforcing 20 mph zones achieved an average 9 mph reduction in vehicle speeds, annual accident frequency fell by 60 per cent. and the overall reduction in child accidents fell by 67 per cent.
The 1998 review looked at wider urban speed issues and included 20 mph zones and 20 mph limits where there was lesser or no traffic calming. This found reductions in vehicle speeds were minimal when only speed limit signs were used.
No specific assessment has been made of the relative effectiveness of part-time 20 mph speed limits and 20 mph zones.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms there were in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years, broken down by county. [135238]
Barry Gardiner: The table shows the number of registered holdings at June each year for 2002 to 2006 by county/unitary authority. These are the figures which are most readily available. Figures for Wales fall under the jurisdiction of the devolved authority.
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