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8 Jun 2009 : Column 703W—continued
Transport
A1: Gateshead
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is planning to take to reduce traffic delays on the A1 Western Bypass in Gateshead; and if he will make a statement. [278157]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport and the Highways Agency are continuing work on options to address traffic pressures on the A1 Western Bypass in Gateshead, including consideration of major improvements and possible “quick wins”. In taking this work forward the Highways Agency is also liaising with officers from both Gateshead and Newcastle councils, mindful of possible complementary measures that may be introduced following Tyne and Wear region's earlier ‘People in Motion’ study.
In addition a number of smaller scale operational improvements are planned including improvements to signalisation, road markings, signing, slip roads, safety barriers and driver information.
Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission
Norman Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what agenda items were discussed at the most recent meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission;
and on what dates the Commission has met in the last 12 months. [278400]
Paul Clark: At the last meeting of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission on 27 May, the items discussed were:
Security and border control issues
Safety: Channel Tunnel Safety Authority (CTSA) Report
Eurotunnel formal submissions
European issues
Questions to raise with Eurotunnel
The Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission met six times in the last 12 months on the following dates:
24 July 2008
24 September 2008
26 November 2008
26 January 2009
26 March 2009
27 May 2009.
Channel Tunnel Railway Line: Fares
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to secure from the Intergovernmental Commission a reduction in charges levied for train traffic through the Channel Tunnel. [278399]
Paul Clark: The Intergovernmental Commission does not set charges for train traffic through the Channel Tunnel. These are set in the Rail Usage Contract and the Network Statement, which is a matter for Eurotunnel.
Driving Offences: Convictions
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many convictions of drivers who failed to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency of their unfitness to drive on medical grounds there have been in each of the last five years. [278072]
Jim Fitzpatrick: It is for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue a prosecution where a driver fails to notify Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of a medical condition that affects their ability to drive safely. DVLA is not aware of any convictions for failure to notify a medical condition in the last five years.
Driving Tests: Motorcycles
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the average forward booking time for module (a) 1 and (b) 2 of the new motorcycle test. [278045]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The latest forward booking times, in weeks, for the practical motorcycling test (modules 1 and 2) are:
| Forward booking date at: | Module one | Module two |
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of applicants for motorcycle tests who reside within (a) 20 miles and (b) 45 minutes travel time of a multi-purpose test centre. [278047]
Jim Fitzpatrick: We estimate that 88 per cent. and 97 per cent. of the population are within 20 miles or 45 minutes of a centre delivering module 1 and 2 tests respectively.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for the difference between the percentage increase in fees for driving tests for motorcycles and driving tests for cars in the period between September 2008 and October 2009. [278085]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Between September 2008 and October 2009, the fee increase percentage for a practical car test was 9.7 per cent. (£56.50 to £62); the increase for the on-road element of the motorcycle test was 25 per cent. (£60 to £75).
The main reason for the difference in increase was that the Driving Standards Agency implemented fee increases for its main activities, including practical car tests, in April 2008. Owing to the expectation of the changes being made to the practical motorcycle test later in that year, the fee increase for that test was delayed until the end of September 2008.
A more appropriate comparison is therefore to compare fee levels in March 2008 and October 2009, which include two general fee increases for both activities. This shows an increase in car test fees of 28 per cent. (£48.50 to £62) compared to an increase of 25 per cent. (£60 to £75) for the comparable element of the motorcycle test.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of using or adapting existing testing facilities to deliver both modules of the new motorcycle test until additional multi-purpose test centres are available. [278022]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Utilising existing testing facilities was considered as part of the Driving. Standards Agency's development of options for implementing the new motorcycling test.
The more demanding manoeuvres required and assessed in module 1 need to be conducted off the public highway for road safety purposes. None of the existing test centres had the necessary facilities to offer off-road manoeuvring areas.
Where suitable existing test centres are available they are used to deliver module 2 of the new practical motorcycle test which is delivered on public roads.
Fisheries
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has commissioned on loading guidance for small fishing vessels in the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [276218]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has commissioned three pieces of research on fishing vessels in the last four years. These are:
Suitability of stability criteria applied to small fishing vessels and associated survivability
Loading guidance for fishing vessels less than 12 m registered length phase II
Simplified presentation of fv stability information for vessels 12 m registered length and over phase II.
These reports are available on the MCA’s website:
under the news and publications—research menu item.
Lorries
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods-vehicle drivers with (a) UK and (b) non-UK driving licences drove heavy goods vehicles on UK roads in the latest period for which figures are available. [278257]
Jim Fitzpatrick: This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Motor Vehicles
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cars were registered to owners resident in each English county in each of the last five years. [278029]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 4 June 2009]: Tables providing the requested information as at 31 December 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Railways: Floods
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken by his Department to ensure adequate emergency welfare support is available to passengers stranded on the rail network in the event of flooding. [278324]
Paul Clark: The review into the 2007 floods conducted by Sir Michael Pitt provided a recommended action for the rail industry to develop plans to provide emergency welfare support to passengers stranded on the rail network. As a result, the Department for Transport has worked with Network Rail to review the current practice in relation to the recommendation.
This practice allows for passengers caught on the network to be given food, drink and any necessary items where conditions require. It does, however, remain the priority of Network Rail to remove passengers from trains, stations and other related areas as soon as it is safe to do so.
Roads: Salisbury
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on upgrading the rail track and bridges on the Southampton diversionary container route via Salisbury. [278371]
Paul Clark: Network Rail's Control Period 4 Delivery Plan published on 31 March 2009 indicates that work is due to commence in late 2010, for completion in early 2014.
South West Trains
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the franchise agreement with South West Trains. [278008]
Paul Clark: A copy of the franchise agreement with South West Trains has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) (Amendment) Order 2009
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with local authorities on the provisions of the Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) (Amendment) Order 2009. [278363]
Paul Clark: Local authorities have been involved throughout the policy development. They are represented on both the Concessionary Travel Working Group (CFWG), which requested that the Department revisited the existing order, and the sub-group which was established to examine the issue in detail and develop proposals for change.
There was a public consultation on the proposals, to which 66 local authorities responded with the clear majority in favour of the proposals. Both the CFWG and the sub-group also had the opportunity to comment on the draft order before it was laid before Parliament.
Wolverton Station: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work on the planned upgrade of Wolverton railway station to begin; and what the reasons are for the change in the timetable set for that project. [278424]
Paul Clark: This project is being funded and delivered by Milton Keynes council. The hon. Member should contact the group manager—transport development at the following address for a response to his questions.
Milton Keynes council
Civic Offices
1 Saxon Gate East
Central Milton Keynes
MK9 3EJ
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Crime
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each police force area in Wales aged (a) under 18 years and (b) between 18 and 24 years have been (i) cautioned and (ii) prosecuted for alcohol related behaviour in each of the last five years. [270662]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The number of persons cautioned for alcohol related behaviour offences in Wales, by police force area and age group, 2003 to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in table 1. The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.
The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for alcohol related behaviour offences in Wales, by police force area and age group, 2003 to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in table 2.
The statistics in table 2 relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
A Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) may also be issued by the police for certain alcohol related offences such as being drunk and disorderly and drunk in a highway. The number of persons issued with a PND for alcohol related behaviour offences in Wales, by police force area and age group, 2004 to 2007 (latest available) are given in table 3. The PND Scheme was implemented in all 43 police force areas in England and Wales in 2004.
Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
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