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18 Feb 2008 : Column 158W—continued
Roads
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research (a) has been conducted since 1997 and (b) is planned by her Department comparing forecast and actual traffic levels for (i) the building of new roads and motorways and (ii) the widening of existing roads and motorways; and if she will place in the Library copies of reports of such research. [181620]
Mr. Tom Harris: Since 2002 the Highways Agency has retrospectively analysed the accuracy of the traffic flow forecasts for all major trunk road improvement schemes, including the widening of existing roads and motorways. A preliminary analysis is undertaken of some schemes immediately after opening, but all schemes over £5 million are evaluated one year and five years after scheme opening. A table giving carbon dioxide, traffic, and road traffic accident data of major Highways Agency schemes, opened since 1997 and completed before December 2006, is in the House of Commons Library.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if she will publish on her Department’s website lists of road schemes approved and funded by the Department, providing (a) the costs at approval, (b) the latest ministerially approved cost and (c) the estimated carbon dioxide emissions impact; [185867]
(2) if she will publish on her Department’s website the appraisal summary tables of the road schemes she has approved. [185868]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 February 2008, Official Report, columns 790-91W.
Roads: Accidents
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) injuries and (b) deaths there were on roads in (i) Peterborough constituency and (ii) the Peterborough city council area in each of the last 10 years. [186314]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of people (a) injured and (b) killed resulting from reported personal injury road accidents in (i) Peterborough constituency and (ii) Peterborough city council in 1997 to 2006 are shown in the table.
Roads: Death
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths there were in motor accidents in which a contributory factor was (a) consumption of illegal drugs, (b) consumption of alcohol and (c) tiredness of the driver during December in each year since 1997. [183652]
Mr. Tom Harris: The number of fatalities resulting from reported road accidents in which a driver/rider had impairment by alcohol, impairment by drugs (illicit or medicinal) or fatigue as a contributory factor during December for 2005 and 2006 is shown in the table.
| Number of fatalities | ||
| Driver contributory factor | 2005 | 2006 |
Information on contributory factors is not available prior to 2005.
The contributory factor “impairment by drugs” applies to illicit drugs as well as all medicines, whether prescription or ‘over the counter’. It is not possible to separate the factor into illicit and medicinal drugs.
The contributory factor “impaired by alcohol” is recorded in accidents in which the police officer’s opinion at the time of reporting is that the driver/rider was affected by alcohol and behaved in a way which caused, or contributed to, the accident—whether or not they were above the legal limit. This may not be the result of a breath or blood test.
Roads: East Anglia
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions her Department has had with officials in the European Commission on the prioritisation of funding for the Trans European Road Network in East Anglia; and if she will make a statement. [181495]
Ms Rosie Winterton
[holding answer 24 January 2008]: The Department put forward a bid under the TEN-T multi-annual bidding round. The UK bid package included two East Anglia road schemes on the A14, funding for works on the A14 between Ellington and Fen Ditton, and between Haughley to Stowmarket. The EC awarded a TEN-T grant of €80.7 million (£60.1 million) on 27 November. We are now in
talks with the Commission to finalise how this award will be divided between the different schemes within our bid package.
Rolling Stock
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the rolling stock plan does not include new diesel rolling stock for the SouthCentral franchise; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the complement of such stock on the (a) Brighton-Ashford and (b) Uckfield-London line. [186496]
Mr. Tom Harris: Bidders for the replacement South Central franchise, for which invitations to tender will be issued later this year, will be required to demonstrate how they plan to match capacity to demand for all the routes in the franchise, including the Uckfield and Ashford lines.
Rolling Stock: Standards
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if she will bring forward proposals to meet the criticisms recorded in the Rail Passengers Council report of March 2005 in relation to the standard of stock on the Portsmouth mainline express service; and if she will make a statement; [186663]
(2) if she will remit the report of March 2005 from the Rail Passengers Council back to the council requesting that it bring forward specific recommendations to address the views of passengers expressed in the report. [186664]
Mr. Tom Harris: The disposition of rolling stock is a matter not for Government, but for Stagecoach South Western Trains (SSWT).
Severn Bridge: Tolls
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2008, Official Report, column 719W, on Severn Bridge: tolls, when the working group is expected to present its findings. [185742]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The working group is expecting to submit a report of its findings and recommendations by early autumn.
Shipping: Climate Change
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the implications of climate change for the UK marine shipping industry. [185774]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
It is important to place UK shipping firmly in context as part of an industry which operates worldwide and is best regulated on a global basis. The Government recognise that shipping generates greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change. Consequently, the Government are working actively within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to limit greenhouse gas emissions and other atmospheric emissions from ships. At the
IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting held in July 2007, the UK argued strongly for the IMO to be both swift and bold in bringing forward measures. The July 2007 Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting considered control measures for greenhouse gas emissions from ships, and set up a correspondence group with a remit to examine possible technical, operational and market-based measures to address greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The correspondence group will report to the next meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, which is from 31 March to 4 April 2008. It is the aim of the IMO to agree on recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships at their assembly in the autumn of 2009.
As regards solutions, market-based measures such as emissions trading are one important area, while in the medium to long term technological improvements may also deliver savings in carbon emissions. For example, the IMO have estimated that technical measures for ship design have significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which could account for up to 30 per cent. in new ships and 20 per cent. in existing ships.
Shipping: Examinations
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department plans to take to develop the seafaring skills base. [185707]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government provide support for seafarer training through the tonnage tax core training commitment and through the support for maritime training (SMarT) scheme, which funds about half of seafarer training costs. These two initiatives have contributed greatly to the seafaring skills base.
In addition to this we support the excellent work of the Merchant Navy Training Board and SeaVision in promoting maritime careers around the country.
The number of new officer trainees claiming SMarT has increased from 480 in 1999-2000 to 650 in 2006-07. We expect final numbers for 2007-08 to be in excess of 800.
We are also currently looking into the practicalities of the joint proposals for increased support for training and employment received from our social partners.
Shipping: Freight
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what targets she has set for the diversion of freight from roads to coastal shipping; and what steps her Department has taken to encourage use of coastal shipping for freight transport. [185737]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department seeks to encourage the modal shift of freight from roads to water in order to secure the environmental benefits that this mode can provide. We operate a Freight Facility Grant to help with the capital cost of providing water freight handling facilities and a Waterborne Freight Grant to assist companies with the operating costs associated with running water freight transport where road is the cheaper option. These schemes are open to inland waterways transport, coastal and short sea shipping.
We also provide support to Sea and Water, an organisation which promotes the shipping of freight on coastal and inland waterways.
Shipping: Registration
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on acceptance of ships onto the UK register, which do not meet the health and safety standards set by the International Safety of Life at Sea Convention. [186417]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Ships joining the UK register must comply with the health and safety standards set by the International Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.
Shipping: Working Conditions
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department plans to take to improve health and safety for workers in the shipping industry. [185705]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Primary responsibility for the health and safety of workers in the shipping industry rests with their employers. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has a responsibility for enforcement of the relevant health and safety legislation and also issues guidance on a wide range of health and safety matters. For the future, the UK is committed to implementing the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, including those relating to the health and safety of seafarers.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the safety implications for seafarers of exposure to emissions from ships' fuel. [185773]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Assessment of safety implications of shipboard operations is broadly a matter for the employer under the existing health and safety regime.
In the particular case of emissions from ships fuel, the issue is currently being considered internationally through the International Maritime Organisation review of existing air pollution controls for ships. The UK is taking an active role in the review group.
Southeastern Railway: Access
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what applications were received from Southeastern Railway for Access For All (a) Small Schemes and (b) Main Schemes for 2008-09. [186139]
Mr. Tom Harris: We have received no applications for funding from Southeastern Railway for 2008-09.
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding has been given to Southeastern Railway under the Access For All Scheme since its introduction. [186140]
Mr. Tom Harris: Southeastern Trains has been offered £764,185 of Access for All Small Schemes funding since 2006. Projects worth £174,361 have been completed and the remainder are on-going.
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