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5 Jan 2010 : Column 91W—continued
Invalid Vehicles: Driving Offences
Jeff Ennis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to introduce a new offence of riding a mobility scooter in a dangerous way. [308941]
Mr. Khan: We have no plans to introduce a new offence of riding a mobility scooter in a dangerous way.
An offence under paragraph 35 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861-"Drivers of carriages injuring persons by furious driving"-already exists in law.
We are aware that the use of powered mobility vehicles is growing. In view of this we are now expecting to consult on issues such as compulsory insurance and training, a more comprehensive registration scheme and on the design and safety standards of mobility vehicles. Our aim will continue to be to balance the mobility needs of scooter users with the safety needs of pedestrians and other road users.
M20: Lorries
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the cost was of the moveable concrete barrier on the M20, pursuant to Operation Stack, how many times it has been deployed; and what assessment he has made of its effectiveness. [306964]
Chris Mole: The installation cost of the moveable concrete barrier on the M20 pursuant to Operation Stack was £6,848,084.
The moveable barrier has been used three times since its introduction in September 2008. The first time was for a period of 10 weeks following the Channel Tunnel
fire closure in late 2008. The moveable barrier has been assessed as being highly effective in achieving the safe but rapid implementation of Operation Stack Phase 1 on the M20, so avoiding widespread travel disruption in Kent.
M4
John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether any section of the M4 in the London Borough of Hillingdon would fall within a public safety zone under the terms of his Department's Public Safety Zone policy as set out in circular 1/2002 on Control of Developments in Airport Public Safety Zones if a third runway is constructed at Heathrow Airport. [308122]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport (DfT) only establishes Public Safety Zones (PSZs) for existing airport runways. For proposed new runways it would be a matter for the airport operator-BAA in the case of Heathrow-to produce draft Public Safety Zone contours as part of any future planning application. DfT Circular 1/2002 on "Control of Developments in Airport Public Safety Zones" sets out the PSZ policy in relation to transport infrastructure at paragraph 19.
M5: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what works are being undertaken between junctions 13 and 11 of the M5; when the work is expected to be completed; what the estimated cost of their work is; and which contractors have been commissioned to complete it. [307731]
Chris Mole [holding answer 16 December 2009]: The following works are being undertaken between junctions 13 and 11 of the M5-installation of Variable Message Signs which are due for completion by the end of March 2010. The work is being undertaken by Balfour Beatty Mott MacDonald at a cost of £3.275 million.
To take advantage of the traffic management arrangements for these works, new barriers at Naas Lane and Harefield Lane between junctions 11a and 12 are also being installed by the same contractor to protect bridge piers from collision damage at a cost of £1.5 million.
National Cycle Plan
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he plans to publish the National Cycle Plan; and if he will make a statement. [307993]
Mr. Khan: We will publish with the Department of Health a joint Active Travel Strategy and National Cycle Plan in the new year.
Roads: Accidents
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on amending the civil law on accident liability by any driver of a moving motorised vehicle in collision with a cyclist; and if he will make a statement. [307992]
Paul Clark: No recent representations have been received suggesting reform of the civil law on accident liability on this issue.
Seat Belts
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to publicise the dangers to motorists of slipping a seat belt shoulder strap under their arm whilst driving; and if he will make a statement. [308228]
Paul Clark: The Department's leaflet 'Seat Belts and Child Restraints' explains that the diagonal strap should lie across the chest and away from the neck. The leaflet is available online at:
There are no plans for further specific publicity to tell motorists how to use seat belts, although the Department will continue to emphasise the importance of wearing them in its safety campaigns and information.
Thames Crossing
Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will visit Castle Point constituency to assess the potential impact on the local environment of a new £4 billion Thames Crossing as proposed by Metrotidal; and if he will make a statement. [307990]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport announced in April 2009 its intention to investigate further three potential options for possible new additional crossing capacity in the Lower Thames area.
In reaching its decision, links between the provision of additional crossing capacity and a possible new Thames Barrier were considered inappropriate, given the prospective timescales for the need for a new Thames Barrier.
In promoting their initiative, it is for Metrotidal to set out their assessment of the potential local environmental impacts of their proposals.
Thames Estuary
Bob Spink:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what progress has been made on the dredge in the Thames estuary for the London Gateway
Port channel; what safeguards against disturbances of munitions in the SS Richard Montgomery have been put in place; what recent discussions have been held with Dubai World Ports on the financing of the work; and if he will make a statement. [307991]
Paul Clark: Progress with the dredge of the London Gateway Port channel is a matter for the port developer, London Gateway Port Ltd., subject to the relevant statutory consents.
Standard dredging practice in the Thames estuary covers matters such as handling the incidental lifting of munitions left on the sea bed. I am advised that magnetometer surveys have been conducted in order to provide the best advance information. The exclusion zone for the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery lies over 2 km from the southern edge of the proposed port access channel.
Financing of the work is also a matter for the port developer.
Transport: Carbon Emissions
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) if he will estimate the level of carbon emissions from (a) rail and (b) road haulage in each year since 1990 (i) per mile and (ii) in total; [306968]
(2) if he will estimate the amount of carbon emissions from rail haulage in each year since 1990 (a) per mile and (b) in total. [306969]
Paul Clark: The following tables are based on data from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory and Great Britain and Northern Ireland traffic censuses. They summarise carbon dioxide emissions of diesel rail haulage and heavy goods vehicles for the years requested. The tables exclude carbon dioxide emission figures for electric rail haulage and per kilometre for diesel rail haulage which are not available in the form requested.
UK national emission estimates are updated annually and any developments in methodology are applied retrospectively to earlier years.
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | ||
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | ||
| Source: AEA Energy and Environment. | ||||||||||
Cabinet Office
10 Downing Street: Lost Property
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) laptop computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) items of office furniture and (d) works of art have been (i) lost by and (ii) stolen from No. 10 Downing Street in each of the last three years; whether her Department has made an insurance claim in respect of each such item; and what the estimated value of each such item was. [302933]
Angela E. Smith: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
For information for the period 2004 to 2008, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes) on 12 March 2009, Official Report, column 717W.
Figures for 2009 are not yet available.
As has been the practice under successive administrations, the Cabinet Office, in common with other Government Departments, 'self insures'.
Breast Cancer
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were diagnosed with breast cancer in (a) Herefordshire county council, (b) Shropshire council, (c) Telford and Wrekin borough council, (d) Cannock Chase district council, (e) East Staffordshire borough council, (f) Lichfield district council, (g) Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council, (h) South Staffordshire council, (i) Stafford borough council, (j) Staffordshire county council, (k) Staffordshire Moorlands district council, (l) Stoke-on-Trent city council, (m) Tamworth borough council, (n) North Warwickshire borough council, (o) Nuneaton and Bedworth borough council, (p) Rugby borough council, (q) Stratford-on-Avon district council, (r) Warwick district council, (s) Warwickshire county council, (t) Birmingham city council, (u) Coventry city council, (v) Dudley metropolitan borough council, (w) Sandwell metropolitan borough council, (x) Solihull metropolitan borough council, (y) Walsall metropolitan borough council, (z) Wolverhampton city council, (aa) Bromsgrove district council, (bb) Malvern Hills district council, (cc) Redditch borough Council, (dd) Worcester city council, (ee) Worcestershire county council, (ff) Wychavon district council and (gg) Wyre Forest district council area in each year since 1997. [308161]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people were diagnosed with breast cancer in (a) Herefordshire County Council, (b) Shropshire Council, (c) Telford and Wrekin Borough Council, (d) Cannock Chase District Council, (e) East Staffordshire Borough Council, (f) Lichfield District Council, (g) Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, (h) South Staffordshire Council, (i) Stafford Borough Council, (j) Staffordshire County Council, (k) Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, (1) Stoke-on-Trent City Council, (m) Tamworth Borough Council, (n) North Warwickshire Borough Council, (o) Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, (p) Rugby Borough Council, (q) Stratford-on-Avon District Council, (r) Warwick District Council, (s) Warwickshire County Council, (t) Birmingham City Council, (u) Coventry City Council, (v) Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, (w) Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, (x) Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, (y) Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, (z) Wolverhampton City Council, (aa) Bromsgrove District Council, (bb) Malvern Hills District Council, (cc) Redditch Borough Council, (dd) Worcester City Council, (ee) Worcestershire County Council, (ff) Wychavon District Council and (gg) Wyre Forest District Council in each year since 1997. (308161)
The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer (incidence) are for the year 2007. Please note that these numbers may not be the same as the number of people diagnosed with cancer, because one person may be diagnosed with more than one cancer.
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