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Viscount Simon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: Figures are not available for the number of applications received by the Highways Agency to move abnormal loads on motorways and all-purpose trunk roads. It is estimated, however, that there are some 200,000 such movements each year.
Viscount Simon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied that the Highways Agency have sufficient powers to restrict abnormal load movements to routes and times which minimise road user delays and disruption;and[HL2303]
Whether they will review the policy of abnormal load movements and strengthen the powers of the Highways Agency to ensure that abnormal load movements only take place at such times and on such routes which minimise road user delay and inconvenience.[HL2304]
Lord Whitty: The powers to restrict abnormal load movements to routes and times which minimise road user delays lie with the police. The Highways Agency's responsibilities are limited to advising hauliers of bridges which are unable to carry specific notified heavy loads and advising the police of proposed roadworks on the trunk road network.
The Government are, however, carrying out a review of the legislation on the movement of abnormal loads, and consideration will be given to whether the
Highways Agency should be given more powers over the timing of abnormal load movements.
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: Operators of the bus and coach services between central London and Heathrow Airport have not indicated whether they will reduce fares following the introduction of the bus lane on the M.4 eastbound carriageway between Junction 3 and the elevated section. However, improved operating conditions as a result of the bus lane are likely to be among the factors they will take into account in their decisions on fare levels.
Taxi fares are controlled and will depend on the distance and time for each journey. There is no special tariff for fares between Heathrow Airport and central London.
Lord Brabazon of Tara asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: We are working on an amendment to the Air Navigation Order to include such an offence and hope that it will be introduced later this year.
Lord Burton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: Research has estimated that 2.3 per cent. of wild mallards may die each year in Britain as a result of poisoning. Annual mortality of pintails and mallards on the Ouse Washes was estimated as 5 per cent. and 4 per cent. respectively. This is in line with a similar scale of mortality in wildfowl from lead shot poisoning reported for the USA, where estimates
suggest that 2-3 per cent. of the autumn waterfowl population die through lead poisoning each year.The true scale of mortality is difficult to assess, as birds which have been poisoned tend to hide away, and also dead birds are rapidly removed by scavengers. Since most lead weights used in angling have been banned since 1987, ingestion by wildfowl from this source will have decreased.
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: The toxic effects of ingested lead on birds have been known for over a century, and reported from many sources around the world. It would not be possible to list all the published research, but a selection of key papers is listed below.
In the most extensive study from this country, Mudge (1983) was able to distinguish between angling and shotgun lead in some cases, but not in others where pellets were heavily eroded. However, sites for study were chosen on the basis that they were regularly shot over and shotgun lead was considered the main source of lead ingestion for most species except mute swans. Since most angling lead shot weights have been banned since 1987, ingestion by wildfowl from this source will have decreased.
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: The Government part-funded a ballistics testing facility, developed by the University College, London from 1993-96. The objective was to assist the development and evaluation of non-toxic shot, and to provide the shooting community with guidelines for judging alternative shot types.
In addition, Cranfield University, funded by the Government, designed a computer program in order to provide a comprehensive predictive model of the effectiveness of differing shot types against wildfowl.
Copies of both these reports will be placed in the Library of the House.
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: As part of the privatisation process, the British Railway Board's records on particular assets were transferred to the new owner of the asset, together with any statutory responsibilities.
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