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3 Nov 2009 : Column 803W—continued
Oil Fired Power Stations
Mr. Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many days oil-fired power stations were activated in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available. [296479]
Mr. Kidney: I have been asked to reply.
The latest 12 month period for which data are available runs from 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009. During that time-period oil fired power stations provided electricity to the high voltage transmission system on 182 days. Their output represented 0.4 per cent. of total transmission system demand.
Mr. Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of operational oil-fired power stations will be more than 30 years old in 2010. [296480]
Mr. Kidney: I have been asked to reply.
In 2010, two currently operational oil-fired power stations will be more than 30 years old, approximately 62 per cent. of current oil-fired installed capacity.
Source:
Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2009, table 5.11, available at:
Mr. Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of operational coal-fired powers stations will be more than (a) 30 and (b) 40 years old in 2010. [296481]
Mr. Kidney: I have been asked to reply.
In 2010, 10 currently operational coal-fired stations will be 40 years old or greater, approximately 60 per cent. of current coal-fired capacity, while a further five stations will be between 30 and 40 years old, approximately 36 per cent. of current coal-fired capacity.
Source:
Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2009, table 5.11, available at:
Party Conferences
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any of his Department's non-departmental public bodies sent representatives to attend one or more political party conferences in 2009. [293481]
Dan Norris: The Environment Agency, Natural England, the Commission for Rural Communities and the Consumer Council for Water attended the three main party conferences.
Renewable Energy: Exports
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the quantity of recovered fuel oil which was exported to other European countries in the last three years. [296855]
Dan Norris:
DEFRA has not made an estimate of this kind. However, following the judgment of the Appeal Court in the OSS Group Ltd v. Environment Agency case, the Environment Agency published on 1 August 2008 an interim statement on the regulation of waste oil. The Environment Agency's statement is available on its website and sets out the circumstances in which
the Agency considers that fuel derived wholly or partially from waste lubricating oil has been fully recovered and has ceased to be waste. The statement also sets out the specification that currently applies in these circumstances.
The Environment Agency's interim statement was published pending the development by the Agency of an end-of-waste protocol for fuels derived from waste lubricating oils. The Government have notified the Agency's post consultation draft of its end-of-waste protocol "for the production and use of processed fuel oil from waste lubricating oils" to the European Commission in compliance with Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC). The initial three-month standstill period required under the directive ends on 30 November 2009.
Transport
Cycling: Helmets
Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2009, Official Report, column 101W, on cycling: helmets, how much his Department has spent on informing those (a) under 16 and (b) 16 or more years old of the risks of cycling without helmets; and if he will make a statement. [296897]
Paul Clark: The Think! campaigns for children include advice on the use of cycle helmets, as part of wider campaigns. These include Tales of the Road for children aged six to 11, launched in November 2008, which includes both pedestrian and cycle safety, including use of helmets, in the supporting materials, although the three TV adverts focus on pedestrian safety. In April 2009, we launched Think Education, to provide teachers and parents with good quality teaching materials covering all road safety issues. Advice on cycle helmets is part of these materials. So far they cover pre-school and upper primary age ranges. Materials for lower primary and secondary age groups up to 16 will be launched next year. Total spending on these campaigns is £3,525,000 but it is not possible to identify separately the proportion related to the information on cycle helmet use.
Advice on cycle helmet use, for all ages, is also included in the cycling section of the Highway Code. Spending on the Highway Code is covered by revenue raised from sales of priced copies. The material is also available free on the DirectGov website.
We have commissioned research on a range of cycle safety issues, which includes identifying good practice in encouraging use of cycle helmets. The project commenced on 21 August 2008 and will run for 24 months. The Department for Transport expects to publish the final reports in autumn 2010 but is aiming to complete the review of cycle helmet effectiveness later this year. Total spend on this project will be in the region of £537,000.
Cycling: Safety
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps he plans to take to improve the safety of cyclists. [296978]
Paul Clark:
There are a number of initiatives under way at present, aimed at improving the safety of cyclists. These include promoting Bikeability cycle training for
children; providing advice to child and adult cyclists on safe road use through the Highway Code and the THINK! road safety campaign, including use of protective equipment such as high visibility clothing and cycle helmets; providing more safe cycle routes to schools and other locations; guidance to local authorities on the design of safer road infrastructure, including effective cycle-specific measures as well as more general measures that benefit all road users such as 20 miles per hour (mph) zones; improvements to motor vehicle driver testing and training; and new measures on lorry mirrors to improve the visibility of cyclists and pedestrians.
In addition, the Department for Transport has commissioned a research project looking at a range of cycle safety issues. The project commenced on 21 August 2008 and will run for 24 months. The Department expects to publish the final reports in autumn 2010.
Our proposals for a new road safety strategy "A Safer Way", published for consultation in April 2009, include a new target to halve the rate of cycle and pedestrian casualties per kilometre travelled. This recognises the need to encourage more cycling and walking as well as making them safer. Measures to achieve this include stronger guidance to local authorities to adopt 20 mph speed limits in residential streets and other areas with high levels of walking and cycle activity. We intend to publish our final road safety strategy later this year.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what plans the Government has made for the sale of the Dartford-Thurrock crossing; and if he will make a statement. [296569]
Mr. Khan: The Prime Minister announced on 12 October that the Government are planning to raise £3 billion from the sale of assets over the next period. The Dartford Crossing was cited as an example of an asset that could be sold. The Department for Transport is working with HM Treasury and the Shareholder Executive to consider the commercial options for realising value for the taxpayer from the Dartford Crossing. This work is influenced by decisions to be made on the requirement for future capacity.
The Department is planning to provide initial views from the analysis on future capacity options in early 2010. This will provide a basis for deciding which commercialisation option to pursue.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much the operator of the Dartford-Thurrock crossing has received under its contract with the Department since April 2008; and how much revenue has accrued to the Department from the operation of the crossing since April 2008. [296571]
Mr. Khan: The Road User Charging Order Accounts for the financial year 2008-09 will set out the revenue collected and the amount paid to Le Crossing Company Limited, previous operators of the Dartford Crossing. This data will not be available until early next year. When published, these Accounts will be placed in the Libraries of the House and on the Highways Agency's website.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of installing a modern payment system which does not require vehicles to stop to pay with cash on the Dartford Crossing; and if he will make a statement. [296416]
Mr. Khan [holding answer 29 October 2009]: A payment system which does not require vehicles to stop and pay cash is already available at the Dartford Crossing. The Dart-tag system at the crossing is based on dedicated short range communications (DSRC) technology and complies with EU directive 2004/52/EC (Interoperability of Electronic Road Toll Systems). This is a pre-payment system available for all classes of vehicle and does not involve cash handling at the plaza.
A Dart-Tag is a computer chip based device that fixes to the inside of the vehicle's windscreen. Equipment installed in the toll booths automatically scans the personalised Dart-Tag, and providing the driver's account is in credit, the barrier rises automatically.
The Department for Transport intends to look further at the potential benefits of credit card payments and newer technologies at the Dartford Crossing.
Driving Offences
Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many road traffic incidents involving stretch limousines and involving death or serious injury have been reported in the most recent year for which figures are available. [297483]
Paul Clark: In 2008 there were five reported road accidents involving death or serious injury known to involve limousines. It is not recorded how many of these were stretched limousines.
Exhaust Emissions
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the average quantity of carbon dioxide released by an exhaust which is (a) compliant with and (b) not compliant with the criteria set out in European Directive 92/97/EEC. [296412]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport has made no assessment of the impact on carbon dioxide emissions of exhausts which are (a) compliant with and (b) not compliant with the criteria set out in European Directive 92/97/EEC.
The Directive is primarily concerned with the ability of replacement exhausts to control noise. It does not directly control CO2 emissions, although it does limit the maximum permissible increase in exhaust back-pressure. However, there is no reason to expect a difference between approved and reasonable quality, non-approved replacement exhaust systems in respect of CO2 emissions.
Lorries: Safety
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department plans to take to improve the safety of heavy goods vehicles. [296869]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is working on a range of measures to improve heavy goods vehicle safety. On vehicle standards, our plans include implementing mandatory requirements for Electronic Stability Control and supporting the introduction of Lane Departure Warning Systems and Advanced Emergency Braking Systems. We are also carrying out research on ways to improve driver vision. Earlier this year new regulations to harmonise the minimum European safety and environmental standards for all large vehicles came into force and will take effect over the next four years.
Motor Vehicles: Environment Protection
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment has been made of the effects of (a) motorcycles and (b) cars on the environment in the period from 2006 to 2009. [296980]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport has not conducted a specific assessment on this subject. However, the Department did publish research on improving road transport emissions modelling in June 2009, which can be found at:
This research includes an updated database of 'road vehicle emissions factors'. These characterise the average emissions rates of different types of vehicles as a function of the average speed at which they are driven. This database includes emissions factors (both air quality and greenhouse gas emissions) for different sizes of cars and motorcycles.
Motor Vehicles: Exports
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what his estimate is of the number of second-hand (a) passenger cars and (b) light vans that were sold for export in each of the last five years. [296415]
Paul Clark [holding answer 29 October 2009]: The precise information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has been notified that a total of 315,092 vehicles were exported during 2008 that had previously been registered at an address in Great Britain. By late October, 307,823 vehicles had been exported during 2009.
These figures cover all vehicle types, including commercial vehicles, and all permanent exports, regardless of whether or not the export coincided with a sale or a change of ownership.
Motorcycles: Environment Protection
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage the purchase of environmentally-friendly motorcycles. [296982]
Mr. Khan: Like other road vehicles, new motorcycles are subject to mandatory air quality emissions standards. Motorcycles are not currently tested for CO2 emissions when they are type approved. In the absence of standard CO2 emissions figures, vehicle excise duty on motorcycles is graduated based on engine capacity as an approximate surrogate for CO2 emissions.
Road Traffic Offences: Foreigners
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on measures to ensure that drivers of heavy goods vehicles registered overseas are prosecuted for road traffic offences committed in England and Wales. [295013]
Paul Clark: In April 2009, the Government introduced the graduated penalty and fixed deposit scheme. This empowers both the police and enforcement officers from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to demand on-the-spot payment of a financial deposit from non-resident drivers (including heavy goods vehicle drivers) committing road traffic offences. Offenders are given the option to go to court, and have the deposit returned to them if they are subsequently cleared of the offence. In practice, almost no foreign drivers elect to go to court.
Rolling Stock
Mr. Martlew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether there are any plans to extend to 11 carriages all of the 52 Pendolino trains. [296885]
Chris Mole: The option to extend the remaining 21 Pendolino trains to 11 carriages is currently being considered by the Department for Transport and we intend to make a decision by the end of the year on whether we wish to progress this option further.
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