Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
26 July 2007 : Column 1578Wcontinued
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authority major transport schemes have departmental approval; whether each scheme has (a) full and (b) provisional approval; what the scheduled date for (i) start and (ii) completion of construction is; and what the capital cost of each such scheme is estimated to be. [148146]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I have placed a table setting out the information requested for local transport major schemes, costing over £5 million, in the House Library.
Chris Huhne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the (a) safety and (b) security of (i) trains, (ii) aircraft and
(iii) road freight transporting radioactive material; and with whom responsibility lies for conducting the risk assessment for such trains. [151925]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is as follows.
(a) The safety of the transport of radioactive material is ensured by the use of appropriate packaging and is not dependent on the mode(s) of transport employed. The transport of radioactive material by all modes of transport is governed by the stringent internationally-agreed standards recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an agency appointed by the United Nations to oversee all aspects of the peaceful uses of atomic energy worldwide. During the period of over 40 years that the IAEA regulations have been in existence, there has been no instance of death or serious injury to persons, nor significant damage to the environment, from radiological effects caused during the transport of radioactive material worldwide by all modes of transport when properly packaged and transported in conformity with these regulations.
The Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency, acting under contract to the Department for Transport, carries out periodic assessments of the radiological impact of the transport of radioactive material under normal and abnormal conditions. A list of recent reports can be found on the Department's website at the following location:
(b) The security of the transport of radioactive material by road or rail is governed by the security measures introduced by The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2005. These security requirements are based on international agreements. Measures include the need for operators to develop and have in place a detailed security plan which includes a written risk assessment of their operations where radioactive materials are stored in transit. All freight carried by air from UK airports is subject to the requirements of the DFT's National Aviation Security Programme to ensure that it is not being used to commit an act of violence against a civil aviation target, for example by containing an
improvised explosive device. Freight on incoming flights remains the responsibility of the country where that aircraft departed from and is similarly covered by a mixture of international regulation and best practice
The transport of material connected with the civil nuclear fuel cycle (nuclear material) is carried out in accordance with stringent security regulationsthe Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (as amended). These regulations are administered and enforced by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), which regulates the security of nuclear material in transit, by road, rail and sea (including globally, when nuclear material is carried on a UK flagged vessel).
The security of the transport of nuclear material was thoroughly reviewed following the events of September 11 2001, and is regularly reviewed in light of the prevailing threat. OCNS is satisfied that the measures
in place to prevent theft or sabotage are adequately robust, and that in the event that a credible threat were detected, appropriate action would be taken.
Under health and safety legislation it is the responsibility of the organisation carrying out any activity to carry out a risk assessment. In the specific case of activities involving radioactive material this is a requirement of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (1999 No. 3232).
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she received the application for funding the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor; how much funding was requested; and when she will make a decision on the application. [152801]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Sunderland city councils major scheme business case for the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor, LTP major road scheme, was submitted to the Department in July 2005.
The total estimated cost of the scheme in July 2005 was £69.455 million. The business case has raised a number of issues, including modelling, appraisal and costs which require further clarification. My officials are working closely with the council and once these outstanding issues have been resolved we hope to be in a position to make a decision on whether to grant programme entry for the proposed scheme.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the changes have been in her Departments carbon footprint policy in the last three years as a result of (a) the fall in the relative price of motoring and (b) the increase in travelling by public transport; and if she will make a statement. [153442]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Since undertaking joint responsibility for the Governments public service agreement on climate change in 2004, the Department for Transport has continued to develop policy to reduce the climate change impact of transport. Policies in this area can be summarised as action to:
improve the fuels that we in the UK consume (eg by reducing their fossil carbon content),
improve the vehicles we use, for example increasing their efficiency,
improve the way we travel and the choices we all make, for example encouraging use of more sustainable modes and smarter driving techniques, and
reduce the Departments own carbon footprint from its operations (as set out in our Sustainable Development Action Plan)
Changes to the relative cost of private motoring compared to public transport costs are taken into account in the Departments transport modelling. Increases in public transport patronage are also forecast and policy decisions are made in the light of factors such as these.
More information about Government policies and the associated evidence are set out in greater detail in various publications, including but not limited to:
Future of Transport White Paper
Climate Change: The UK Programme 2006
Putting Passengers First and Draft Local Transport Bill
Meeting the Energy Challenge: A White Paper on Energy
Low Carbon Transport Innovation Strategy
The Departments Sustainable Development Action Plan
Delivering a Sustainable RailwayWhite Paper
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding was allocated to promoting the use of low emission vehicles in each of the last five years. [153548]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Until 2006, funding for the promotion of low emission vehicles was provided to the Energy Saving Trust as part of the TransportEnergy programme, which promoted and provided grants. Funding allocated for the TransportEnergy programme was: 2002-03 £16.446 million, 2003-04 £26.221 million, 2004-05 £20.943 million, 2005-06 £22 million.
In 2005 these funds were reviewed and re-focused. In 2006-07 £9 million was allocated to the Energy Saving Trust transport programmes. £5 million was allocated to the transport elements of the new Act On CO2 consumer communications campaign, which promotes lower CO2 cars and driving behaviours. £3.5 million was allocated to the Freight Best Practice and Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving programmes which promote fuel efficient logistics, vehicles and driving behaviour in the
haulage industry. Funds were also allocated to support the development of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation and feasibility studies, into new programmes such as a green transport accreditation programme for UK businesses.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken to promote the use of low emission vehicles in London. [153549]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport is working closely with Transport for London to support the implementation of the Mayors London Low Emission Zone. The Department also liaises with local authorities via the Low Emissions Strategy forum, which shares knowledge and best practice to help local authorities to improve air quality, including low emission zones.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) low emission cars and (b) cars were owned in London in each of the last five years. [153551]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The number of licensed cars, registered to keepers residing in London, in each CO2 emissions band over the last five years were as follows:
Number of licensed cars at year end | |||||
CO 2 emissions | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
Note:(1) CO2 emissions data were not collected for cars registered before 1 March 2001. In addition, emissions data are not available for a small number of cars registered after this date. |
Index | Home Page |