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1 Jun 2009 : Column 13W—continued
Vehicles used in the UK, including those visiting temporarily, must comply with the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations which require that headlamps should not be used so as to cause dazzle or discomfort to other road users. It is the responsibility of those visiting the UK to make themselves aware of these requirements and to make any necessary adjustments to their headlamps to enable them to comply either by using “beam adaptors” or any other method recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency is currently considering whether better information to drivers of large vehicles on how to adjust headlamp beam patterns could be provided.
Eurostar
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the sale of Eurostar UK on the likely price which will be obtained for the sale of High Speed 1. [277248]
Paul Clark: The Government are not engaged in a sale of Eurostar (UK) Ltd.
The continued success and sustainability of Eurostar is an important factor in the value of High Speed 1. This is one of the reasons why the Government continue to examine ways to best further the development of Eurostar to the benefit of passengers and in relation to value for the UK taxpayer. We are doing so in conjunction with our international partners.
Heathrow Airport
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter of 8 November 2008 he received from Colin Matthews of BAA on the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement. [277251]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The chief executive of BAA, Colin Matthews, wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport on 28 November 2008. The content of his letter was widely reported in the media and BAA issued a press release on the matter which contains the substance of the letter. The press release is titled “Heathrow Airport puts environmental limits before new flights” and can be accessed in the ‘News releases’ section of:
London and Continental Railways
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to maximise the value to the Exchequer of the disposal of (a) High Speed 1, (b) Eurostar UK and (c) other property and remaining assets associated with London and Continental Railways Ltd. [277247]
Paul Clark: The Government intend to secure best value in High Speed 1 through a public auction of a long-term concession, the timing of which will depend on an assessment of market conditions.
Similarly London and Continental Railways Ltd. will develop and dispose of its property assets in due course as is judged to deliver best value in the market.
The Government are not engaged in a sale of Eurostar (UK) Ltd. and continue to examine ways to best further the development of the successful Eurostar services to the benefit of passengers and in relation to value for the UK taxpayer. We are doing so in conjunction with our international partners.
Lorries: Safety
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the potential for the use of side-flapped, automatic sheeting systems for tipper trucks to contribute to road safety; and if he will make a statement. [276615]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Current Regulations require all loads to be secured so that no danger is caused to any person or property. Vehicle users are free to select the most appropriate equipment to meet these requirements and there are no plans to request an assessment of any new systems.
For information, the Code can be found on the Department for Transport’s website at:
Recently our domestic code was complemented by a Code for Europe which can be found at:
M25: Road Traffic
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of congestion of the road-widening scheme between junctions 1b and 3 of the M25. [276464]
Paul Clark: A Post Opening Project Evaluation, which includes the effects on levels of congestion, will be carried out in autumn 2009. The report will be available in April 2010.
Motor Vehicles: Registration
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many automatic penalties the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issued for failure to submit a statutory off-road notification in each of the last five years; in how many of these cases the Agency had not sent a reminder to the registered keeper previously; and if he will make it his policy that (a) DVLA issue reminders for renewal of statutory off-road notifications in all circumstances and (b) automatic penalties are not issued by DVLA unless a renewal reminder has been sent. [277519]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not have details of the number of automatic penalties issued for failure to submit a statutory off-road notification. However, the following table provides the total number of automatic penalties issued for the combined reasons of failing to submit a statutory off-road notification or failing to relicense a vehicle.
| Number | |
Reminders are automatically issued to all customers before the SORN or tax disc expires. There may be occasions when a reminder cannot be issued, e.g. if the vehicle is stolen.
Motorcycles
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the frequency with which lag pipes are fitted to powered two-wheel vehicles other than those designed for racing purposes off the public highway; and if he will make a statement. [276297]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has not conducted any assessment of the frequency with which modified exhausts are fitted to motorcycles in service.
Network Rail: Consultants
Mr. Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department paid in fees to Pender Coucher Associates for work in connection with the establishment of Network Rail in 2002. [277365]
Paul Clark: No payments were made to Coucher Pender Ltd. by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for work in connection with the establishment of Network Rail in 2002.
However, the Strategic Rail Authority did engage Coucher Pender Ltd. as consultants in the work to bring Railtrack out of administration.
The amount paid can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much of the fees paid by Network Rail to Coucher Pender Ltd. between 2007 and 2009 was paid in salaries and bonuses to Iain Coucher and Victoria Pender; [277366]
(2) how much of the fees paid to Coucher Pender Ltd., formerly Pender Coucher Associates, between 2002 and 2007 by Network Rail were paid in salaries and bonuses to Iain Coucher and Victoria Pender. [277368]
Paul Clark: Iain Coucher is an Executive Director of Network Rail. Details of his annual salaries and bonuses are published in the company's Annual Reports and Accounts, which can be found on the Network Rail website at:
Victoria Pender's employment conditions are a matter for her and Network Rail. My hon. Friend should contact Network Rail at the following address for further information on his questions:
Network Rail
Kings Place
90 York Way
London, N1 9AG.
Mr. Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much was paid by Network Rail to Coucher Pender Ltd. formerly Pender Coucher Associates, between 2002 and 2007; [277367]
(2) how much was paid in fees by Network Rail to Coucher Pender Ltd. formerly Pender Coucher Associates, between April 2007 and April 2009. [277369]
Paul Clark: These are commercial matters for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. My hon. Friend should contact Network Rail at the following address for a response to his questions:
Network Rail
Kings Place
90 York Way
London, N1 9AG
Railways: EU Action
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which EU bodies have responsibilities relating to inter-operability of European railways. [277187]
Paul Clark: The European Commission is responsible for policy on the Interoperability of European Railways. The Commission is supported on operational and technical matters by the European Railway Agency.
Technical Specifications for Interoperability are developed with the input of a variety of representative bodies.
Draft specifications are consulted on with European social partners:
BUSINESSEUROPE
the European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation
European Trade Union Confederation.
Following consultation the drafts need to be agreed with member states and the European Parliament.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on funding road improvement schemes administered by the Highways Agency. [277328]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport receives many representations on improvements to roads managed by the Highways Agency. Notably, the English regions (excluding London) submitted in February 2009 their regional funding advice on transport priorities in the period up to 2018-19 which included a number of proposed enhancements to Highways Agency roads of regional importance. The Department announced in January its planned programme of improvements to motorways and major trunk roads.
Southend Airport
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent assessment he has made of the effect on levels of greenhouse gas emissions of (a) passenger
aircraft and (b) cargo aircraft using Southend Airport; what representations he has received on this issue since January 2008; and if he will make a statement; [276871]
(2) what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) departmental officials have had with representatives of BAA on proposals for the expansion of Southend Airport in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [277001]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport’s latest assessment of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from passenger and freight aircraft using the UK’s main airports is published in Annex G of “UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts 2009”. This is available at:
No assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from passenger and freight aircraft using Southend Airport has been made, nor has the Secretary of State received any representations on the issue.
There have been no discussions between the Department for Transport and BAA on proposals for the expansion of Southend Airport. London Southend Airport was purchased in December 2008 by Stobart Group Ltd. from Regional Airports Limited.
The Future of Air Transport White Paper identified Southend Airport as having a valuable role in meeting local demand and the potential to contribute to regional economic development. The White Paper supported further development in principle, subject to relevant environmental considerations. The two local councils, Rochford and Southend, have recently consulted on their preferred option for the development of Southend Airport. This consultation closed on 15 May 2009.
Speed Limits: Cameras
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue from fines for motoring offences arising from detections by speed cameras was paid into the Consolidated Fund (a) directly and (b) from surpluses of safety camera partnerships in each of the last 10 years. [276454]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport only holds information about speed and red light cameras operating under the National Safety Camera programme which started in 2001 and ended on 31 March 2007. The Department does not hold details of fines imposed by courts and paid directly into the consolidated fund. The gross surpluses returned to the consolidated fund from the partnerships are shown in the following table. This surplus represents the difference between the total of fixed penalties paid for speed and red light offences detected by cameras, and the costs reclaimed by partnerships in the prevention, detection and enforcement of these offences. A portion of the amount shown will have been deducted prior to payment to Treasury in order to cover departmental costs.
| Amount (£) | Number of partnerships operating | |
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