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26 July 2007 : Column 1558W—continued
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many UK residents on (a) leisure and (b) business trips transferred or transited at Heathrow airport to (i) an overseas destination and (ii) another destination in the UK in 2006. [152899]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table shows the estimated number of UK residents on leisure and business trips who transferred at Heathrow airport to an overseas destination and another destination in the UK in 2006. Information on the country of residence or the trip purpose of transit passengers is not available.
| Transfer passengers at Heathrow (UK residents), 2006 | ||
| thousand | ||
| Transfer to an overseas destination | Transfer to another destination in the UK | |
| Source: Civil Aviation Authority | ||
Heathrow Airport: Security
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will meet London First to discuss the impact of security arrangements at Heathrow Airport on business travellers. [152148]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 24 July 2007]: The Department is very aware of the issues facing business and leisure travellers, resulting from the necessary current security regulations. My right hon. Friend last week hosted an Aviation Security Summit with senior aviation industry figures, to review industry’s preparedness for this summer’s peak traffic season, and to explore the scope for steps which might be taken to further ease the burden on passengers whilst continuing to ensure effective security. My right hon. Friend will be meeting with London First shortly.
Highways Agency: Weather
Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Highways Agency was notified by
the Meteorological Office of the warning of severe weather on and around 20 July; and what information was provided. [153698]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Highways Agency was first notified by the Meteorological Office of a heavy rain warning at 10.12 am on Wednesday 18 July. The warning stated that a prolonged period of heavy and thundery rain was expected to affect parts of England and Wales on Friday and into Saturday. The warning stated that there was doubt about where the highest rainfall would occur but that southern and eastern areas were most at risk and that the heavy rain could lead to flooding in some areas and cause disruption to outdoor events and transport networks.
This warning was updated at 10.39 am on Thursday 19 July to a prolonged period of heavy and thundery rain affecting southern parts of England and Wales on Friday, then moving into more northern areas overnight and into Saturday.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Highways Agency took in response to the recent bad weather warning and information provided by the Meteorological Office; when these were taken; and whether the Highways Agency took any steps to inform the public of possible problems with travelling because of the adverse weather conditions. [153699]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Highways Agency issued at 4.37 pm on Thursday 19 July a Press Notice warning of severe weather.
The Highways Agency had patrols of Traffic Officers and Incident Support Units operating along key routes throughout Friday to identify any problems and deal with events where possible. Updates on road conditions were regularly issued through the media, on the Agency’s website and through its Information Line. The Agency issued a further 10 Press Notices and updates between Friday 20 July and Tuesday 24 July.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the policy is of the Highways Agency on acting upon warnings received from the Meteorological Office on adverse weather conditions. [153700]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Highways Agency’s Regional Control Centres for the regions affected implement operational plans depending on the type of warning. The Agency’s National Traffic Control Centre responds at a strategic level depending on the nature and duration of the weather event and co-ordinates dissemination of information to the public, press and on strategic motorway signs.
In the most serious events the Agency has contingency plans at local, regional and national level, and these plans would provide the operational response to disruption caused by the weather.
In all cases contingency plans utilise both the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service, and the Agency’s service providers, to ensure there is both a response in the Agency’s new role as a network operator, and the traditional role as the maintainer to the strategic roads network.
The contingency plans are regularly rehearsed and tested, and following all incidents there is a debrief and lesson learning process. The Agency also has a ‘Severe Weather—Lessons Learnt’ group which meets monthly throughout the year.
The Agency has special arrangements with the Met Office for weather forecasting, with a Met Office forecaster ‘embedded’ in the National Traffic Control centre from October to April, and there is a bureau arrangement with the Met Office for the remainder of the year.
For the future the Agency is working with the freight transport industry to set up a warning system, to advise transport drivers of severe weather conditions, and in particular to prevent high sided vehicles being blown over in high winds. This should be in place prior to the winter 2007-08.
Lorries: EU Law
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to prepare for the introduction of mandatory retro-reflective markings on all newly registered heavy goods vehicles by 10 October 2009 under European Union Directive 76/756/EEC. [152812]
Jim Fitzpatrick: UNECE Regulation 48 permits contracting parties to refuse registration of heavy goods vehicles not fitted with retro-reflective conspicuity markings from 10 October 2009 and Department officials are currently drafting the necessary amendments to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations to introduce requirements from this date.
However, Directive 76/756/EEC requires that we must continue to register vehicles type approved before 10 July 2008 without retro-reflective markings fitted until 10 July 2011 and derogations will be necessary for such vehicles.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to prepare for the introduction of mandatory retro-reflective markings on all new types of heavy goods vehicles by 10 October 2007 under European Union Directive 76/756/EEC. [152813]
Jim Fitzpatrick: New types of heavy goods vehicles which are approved to UNECE Regulation 48 from 10 October 2007 must be fitted with retro-reflective markings.
However, type approval of heavy goods vehicles is currently optional in the UK and retro-reflective markings on all new types of heavy goods vehicles will become mandatory with the introduction of European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) for heavy trucks and trailers which implements Directive 76/756/EEC.
We will implement the requirements of ECWVTA into national legislation in accordance with the specified timetable. It is anticipated that all complete new types of heavy goods vehicle will have to be type approved from October 2010, which will include provisions relating to retro-reflective markings.
Lorries: Health Hazards
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of (a) the effects on human health of increased levels of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) traffic and (b) the level of HGV movements per day on a public highway at which there would be an increased risk to people living (i) a quarter of a mile, (ii) half a mile, (iii) three-quarters of a mile and (iv) one mile from a public highway. [152703]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport does not have health expertise but relies on the advice of the Department for Health’s Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP). COMEAP estimated that in 1996(1) airborne particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (the two main road traffic pollutants) resulted in 19,200 hospital admissions. More recently concentrations of particulate matter in 2005 were estimated to reduce average life expectancy by eight months.
It is not possible to separate the health impacts of specific vehicle types from other sources. However, in 2001 road traffic accounted for 55-60 per cent. of particulate matter and 85-90 per cent. of nitrogen dioxide at roadside, and 20-25 per cent. of particulate matter and 65-70 per cent. of nitrogen dioxide at background locations, in London (the worst case location). In this same year heavy goods vehicles were responsible for 13 per cent. and 17 per cent. of urban road traffic emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide respectively.
The Department is committed to reducing road transport emissions. The most effective mechanism for this is via new vehicle emissions standards, often known as ‘Euro’ standards. These have already brought about substantial reductions in emissions, however further reductions are required if we are to meet our air quality objectives. I am pleased to report that new standards (‘Euro 5’ and ‘Euro 6’) which will give major reductions in light duty vehicle emissions were adopted by the European Council in May 2007. We are also expecting a proposal from the European Commission late this year to further tighten heavy goods vehicle emissions requirements.
For particulate matter, there is no known threshold below which there are no effects on health, this makes it impossible to identify a number of vehicle movements below which there are no health impacts. However, maps showing ambient concentrations of pollutants(2) on a one kilometre square basis relative to Air Quality targets are available from national emissions modelling. In addition the Highways Agency routinely assesses the impacts of trunk road projects on emissions and exceedences of air quality objectives.
(1) http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap/statementsreports/ airpol7.htm
Luggage: Airports
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bags were reported by passengers (a) lost, (b) damaged and (c) delayed using Scotland’s airports in each of the last five years. [153620]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held by this Department. Information on baggage may be held by individual airlines/airport operators.
Office of the Rail Regulator: Consultants
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will list the (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by the Office of the Rail Regulator since November 2005; what the nature was of the assignment for each consultant; and what the value was of work done by each consultant. [151828]
Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 23 July 2007]: A table has been placed in the House Libraries detailing contracts which have been let since November 2005 relating to ORR's economic and technical directorates. Two contracts are on a call off basis. The values shown are the total amount estimated at the time the contract was let.
Official Cars: Ministers
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 23 July 2007, Official Report, column 674W, on official cars: Ministers, which Minister was referred to in the answer. [153740]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry until November 2006 was not provided with an official car and driver by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.
Railway Stations: Security
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of railway stations in each region were accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme in each year since 1998. [151864]
Mr. Tom Harris: Stations are awarded Secure Station status for a two year period once they have met the required Scheme accreditation standards on station design, station management, crime management and passenger perceptions. After this two year period, stations can seek reaccreditation under the Scheme.
The figures requested are provided in the following table. The England figures cover overground, London Underground and Docklands Light Rail stations.
The yearly accreditation figures represent stations that have received their accreditation or reaccreditation in that year. The figures do not include those stations in the second year of their accreditation period. For example, by totalling all new accreditations with those currently in the second year of their accreditation there are at present a total of 516 accredited stations in England, Scotland and Wales. This represents 18.4 per cent. of the total stations in GB.
Currently, over 90 per cent. of all overground rail journeys, and 74 per cent. of London Underground journeys involve passengers starting or finishing their journey at a Secure Station.
| England | Scotland | Wales | ||||
| Accreditations | Percentage | Accreditations | Percentage | Accreditations | Percentage | |
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