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Baroness Thomas of Walliswood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Statement on the Roads Review by the Lord Whitty on 31 July (Official Report, cols. 1741-1745), what funds will be made available for major road maintenance and small safety projects, (a) this financial year and (b) in each successive year up to and including 2001-02.[HL3274]
Lord Whitty: In 1998-99, the Highways Agency plans to spend approximately £193 million on routine and winter maintenance (including communications maintenance) and approximately £35 million on small safety schemes.
In accordance with the CSR settlements, the Highways Agency plans to spend, for the years 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02, £247 million, £249 million and £250 million respectively on routine and winter maintenance (including communications maintenance). Budgeted CSR expenditure on small (less than £5 million) safety projects for the years 1999-2000, 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 are £40 million, £45 million and £50 million respectively.
Baroness Thomas of Walliswood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Statement on the Roads Review by the Lord Whitty on 31 July (Official Report, cols. 1741-1745), what level of traffic in terms of vehicles per lane, per hour or per day, was used to justify the widening of the M.25 between Junctions 12 and 15.[HL3275]
Lord Whitty: The decision to widen the M.25 between Junctions 12 and 15 was based on an appraisal of the scheme against the criteria of integration, environment, safety, economy and accessibility using the new approach to appraisal developed as part of the Roads Review and not just on traffic flow data. However, current average traffic flows on this section can reach to over 181,000 vehicles a day with weekday flows up to 200,000 per day between Junctions 13 and 14. Peak hour traffic levels in terms of vehicles per lane/per hour reach 2,200. The problems between these junctions remain immediate and acute despite the use of traffic management measures including controlled motorway operations. We, therefore, concluded that widening this section of the motorway is an essential part of an integrated strategy to make this vital part of our core network function acceptably.
Westminster Underground Station
Baroness Platt of Writtle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in the new Westminster underground station, escalators will be fitted for access to the platforms.[HL 3217]
Lord Whitty: Yes. The new station at Westminster, currently under construction, will be fitted with escalators linking the ticket hall with the Jubilee Line
Extension platforms, from where there will also be escalator access to the District and Circle lines. Direct access from the ticket hall to the District and Circle Line platforms will be by fixed staircases.Single Vehicle Approval
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they are taking to ensure that all vehicles produced or constructed, which are submitted for single vehicle approval testing under the Motor Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 1996 for use on the highway, also comply with the appropriate standards of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1996.[HL 3232]
Lord Whitty: The Single Vehicle Approval inspection assesses the design and construction of a vehicle that has not been type-approved at the manufacturing stage. The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 in addition cover the condition of a vehicle. The condition of a vehicle continues to be assessed by the annual MoT test, which is required for cars and light goods vehicles over 3 years old. Vehicles over 3 years old submitted for Single Vehicle Approval also have to pass the MoT test before they can be licensed and registered.
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In which countries of the European Union a Vehicle Inspectorate, British National Type Approval, Minister's Approval Certificate is accepted for--
a. first registration in one of those European Union countries of a vehicle produced in the United Kingdom; and
b. re-registration in another member state of the European Union of a vehicle produced or constructed, issued with a Minister's Approval Certificate, and first registered in the United Kingdom.[HL 3233]
Lord Whitty: Single Vehicle Approval is not harmonised at European level, so there is no specific obligation to recognise a Minister's Approval Certificate issued by the Vehicle Inspectorate in either case. We do not know if any other member states do recognise British single Vehicle Approval Certificates. We would not expect most of them to do so because the British scheme only establishes that a vehicle is fit to enter service in left-hand traffic.
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they expect to produce a consolidated and definitive Single Vehicle Approval Regulations Manual, following the coming into force of the regulations on 1 July.[HL3234]
Lord Whitty: The Single Vehicle Approval Test Manual is in ring-binder form and can therefore be readily modified by replacing outdated sections when
necessary. Two major revisions have occurred since the Manual was first issued in 1996. The lattermost was issued on 27 April this year to reflect changes to some of the technical standards introduced by the Motor Vehicles (Approval) (Amendment) Regulations 1998, which became effective on 30 April.
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 19 November 1997 (WA 83-84), which kit car and replica car manufacturers received Single Vehicle Approval by 30 July 1998, giving the date of approval and re-test where appropriate; which manufacturers have not yet received approval, but have submitted for a re-test, and on which dates; at which centres tests can be carried out; and what vehicles had been so tested by 30 July at each appointed test station.[HL3236]
Lord Whitty: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate Agency to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to the Earl of Haddington from the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate Agency, Mr. Maurice Newey, dated 10 August 1998.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions, further to the Written Answer given by the Baroness Hayman on 19 November 1997, about which kit car and replica car manufacture received Single Vehicle Approval by 30 July 1998, giving the date of approval, and retest where appropriate; which manufacturers have not yet received approval, but have submitted for a re-test and on which dates; at which centres tests can be carried out; and what vehicles have been so tested by 30 July at each appointed Test Station.
Single Vehicle Approval Tests (SVA) may be carried out at 16 Goods Vehicle Testing Stations located in Aberdeen, Beverley, Bristol, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Exeter, Gillingham, Heywood, Leicester, Leighton Buzzard, Llantrisant, Newcastle, Norwich, Shrewsbury, Southampton and Yeading.
Data relating to the SVA tests of kit/replica vehicles carried out since VI's previous reply up to the end of June 1998 is contained in the attached tables. Information relating to the vehicles seen since 1 July is not yet available. You will notice a slight change in the way in which the data is presented from January. This is due to the introduction of a new computerised record system.
| Location | Test Date | Kit/Replica | Model | Retest Date | Certificate Issued |
| Exeter | 15-12-97 | Yes | Hunter | 06-01-98 | 06-01-98 |
| Beverley | 4-12-97 | Yes | Striker | No Application | |
| Leicester | 19-11-97 | Yes | Rossa K3 | -- | 19-11-97 |
| Gillingham | 23-12-97 | Yes | Cat | 09-01-98 | 09-01-98 |
| London (Yeading) | 05-12-97 | Yes | Sprite | 09-12-97 | 09-12-97 |
| Southampton | 12-12-97 | Yes | Sprite | -- | 23-12-97 |
| Station | Test date | Test type | Make | Model | Kit/Replica | Test result |
| Southampton | 01-04-98 | Retest | Domino | Mini Cooper | Kit | Pass |
| Southampton | 06-04-98 | Test | Frogeye | Supersprint | Kit | Pass |
| Southampton | 30-04-98 | Test | Frogeye | Supersprint | Kit | Pass |
| Southampton | 01-06-98 | Test | Frogeye | Supersprite | Kit | Pass |
| Southampton | 26-06-98 | Test | Dutton | Mariner | Kit | Fail |
| Leicester | 28-04-98 | Test | Gardner Douglas | GD427 | Kit | Fail |
| Leicester | 08-05-98 | Retest | Gardner Douglas | GD427 | Kit | Pass |
| Heywood | 20-04-98 | Test | Beauford | Tourer | Kit | Fail |
| Heywood | 22-04-98 | Retest | Beauford | Tourer | Kit | Pass |
| Yeading | 16-06-98 | Test | Chesil | Speedster | Kit | Fail |
| Yeading | 25-06-98 | Retest | Chesil | Speedster | Kit | Pass |
| Gillingham | 10-08-98 | Test | Tiger | Super 8 | Kit | Pass |
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