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Nesscliffe Bypass
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress made to build the Nesscliffe A5 road bypass and on the anticipated completion date. [154466]
Mr. Hill: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.
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Letter from John Kerman to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 22 March 2001:
- PROGRESS ON A5 NESCLIFFE BYPASS
- The Transport Minister, Keith Hill, has asked Tim Matthews the Chief Executive to reply to your Parliamentary Question about progress on the A5 Nesscliffe Bypass. I am replying in the absence of Tim Matthews.
- Good progress is being made with the statutory procedures, which are now close to completion. The Compulsory Purchase Order has been confirmed and the legal challenge period is due to expire on 29 March 2001. We have begun the procurement process with the aim of inviting tenders in June for a Design and Build Contract. We hope to award the contract in December this year. Work should start on what we expect to be a 21 month contract in early Spring 2002. All being well, the bypass should be open to traffic in late Autumn 2003.
- We are confident that we will meet this programme but we do have to bear in mind the current restrictions imposed by the Foot and Mouth situation on access to the countryside. This is particularly relevant given the essential ecological surveys that must be carried out at specific times of the year. We will keep this situation under close review.
- If you would like any additional information please contact Stephen Edwards at our Birmingham office. His telephone number is 0121 678 8360.
A329M Closure
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the reason was for the time taken by (a) the Environment Agency to respond to the accident and spill on the A329M on 12 March and (b) the police to clear the road; and for what reason the police closed the road for most of that day; [154278]
- (2) if he will make a statement on (a) the traffic delays caused by the closure of the A329M on 12 March and (b) the Environment Agency's role in the closure. [154277]
Mr. Meacher: I understand that due to the spillage of diesel fuel and a subsequent six-vehicle accident the Thames Valley police closed the A329M at 23.54 pm on 11 March and re-opened it approximately three hours later. During the intervening period, the Thames Valley police, assisted by the Environment Agency, were involved in mopping up the diesel fuel and removing the six vehicles involved in the accident, which was made more difficult at the time by severe weather conditions. At the scene of such an accident the police have a duty to ensure that the safety of the public, the preservation of life, the rescue of the injured and the gathering of evidence to support the prosecution of serious traffic offences take precedence over any problems caused by traffic delay or congestion. The police are of course conscious of delays that can ensue from such accidents and they work with the Highways Agency and local radio stations to minimise disruption to traffic. Once the Thames Valley police were satisfied that it was safe to re-open the road, they did so at approximately 3.00 am on 12 March.
Following an initial telephone call from the Thames Valley police, Environmental Protection Officers from the Environment Agency arrived at the scene approximately 50 minutes from first notification of the incident, to find that diesel fuel was flowing from the road into the roadside drains. The Agency's officers isolated the
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surface drains using sawdust and soil from the verges and made a request to the local authority for gulley suckers to empty the roadside drains as soon as possible. The Agency's officers checked ditches on both sides of the M4, identifying areas where these drained to the Emm Brook. After a thorough examination, the Agency officers could find no evidence to suggest that any diesel fuel had entered either the ditches or the Emm Brook.
Car Number Plates
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy on flags printed on car number plates. [154312]
Mr. Hill [holding answer 19 March 2001]: In March 2000 the Government announced that legislation would be introduced to allow motorists to display the GB national identifier and the European circle of stars on car number plates on a voluntary non-mandatory basis. This would enable citizens to dispense with the requirement to display a separate GB sticker when travelling in Europe. The option of a separate GB sticker remains. There are no plans to permit the display of any other symbols or flags on number plates.
Driving Instructors
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the policy of the Government are concerning the enforcement of the provisions of Part V of the Road Traffic Act 1988 which requires driving instructors teaching for money to hold an approved driving instructors' certificate; and under what circumstances exceptions are made to this policy. [154735]
Mr. Hill [holding answer 20 March 2001]: The universal practice is for the Driving Standards Agency to use the Vehicle Inspectorate to investigate alleged cases of illegal driving instruction on its behalf. The inspectorate, in liaison with the agency, is responsible for pursuing prosecutions.
Departmental Policies (Stourbridge)
Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to (a) Stourbridge and (b) the metropolitan borough of Dudley the effects on the area of his Department's (i) local government and (ii) transport policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154731]
Ms Beverley Hughes [holding answer 20 March 2001]: The principal funding that this Department have provided to Dudley metropolitan borough in which Stourbridge falls since 2 May 1997 are shown in the table. These include grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.
It is not possible to determine how much of this money has been spent on Stourbridge. It is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are applied.
The £55 million Dudley southern bypass was completed in 1999.
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| £ million | |||||
| Nature of funding | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02(1) |
| Revenue Support Grant(2) | 87.24 | 97.44 | 102.52 | 98.35 | 108.29 |
| Income from National non-Domestic Rates(2) | 68.22 | 71.10 | 76.84 | 86.71 | 84.78 |
| Housing Investment Programme(3) | 5.37 | 4.41 | 4.42 | 10.97 | 3.20 |
| Housing Revenue Account Subsidy | 18.68 | 16.62 | 15.54 | 14.52 | 0.00 |
| Capital Receipts Initiative | 1.04 | 3.35 | 3.42 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Cash Incentive Scheme | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Capital Challenge | 4.26 | 3.37 | 4.77 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Major Repair Allowance | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 14.05 |
| SRB Funding(7) | 5.31 | 4.60 | 5.29 | 3.35 | 18.54 |
| Neighbourhood Renewal(4) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.76 |
| ERDF Funding | 2,169.315 | 4,135.111 | 5,557.033 | 7,667.424 | 3,066.129 |
| ERDF Funding(5) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 300.000 | 268.250 | 0.00 |
| ESF Objective 2 | 648.439 | 1,003.649 | 1,263.193 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| ESF Objective 2(5) | 0.000 | 192.583 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Transport Supplementary Grant | 3.75 | 4.85 | 6.76 | 2.03 | -- |
| Transport Annual Capital Guideline | 3.75 | 4.85 | 6.76 | 2.03 | -- |
| Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval | 1.58 | 1.82 | 1.51 | 3.61 | 6.86 |
| Rural Bus Subsidy Grant(6) | 0.00 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.11 |
| Rural Bus Challenge Grant(6) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.42 | -- |
(1) Where known
(2) The amounts of Revenue Support Grant and Income from National non-Domestic Rates shown for 1997-98 and 1998-99 are the revised amounts allocated under "The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1997-98 Amending Report 1999" and "The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1998-99 Amending Report 2000" respectively.
(3) The Housing subsidy figure for 2000-01 is still provisional. The reduction in HIP resources for 2001-02 is due the introduction of the new Major Repair Allowance i.e. a new way of allocating resources for works to council stock; the table shows Dudley's indicative figure for 2001-02.
(4) This is the first year of a 3-year NRF allocation to Dudley. It will be for the emerging LSP to determine how and where it should be spent.
(5) These amounts of ERDF and ESF Objective 2 grant have been identified as approved for projects within the Stourbridge district.
(6) Rural bus payments were made to the WM Passenger Transport Executive, Centro for spending across the metropolitan area.
(7) Details of SRB Projects.
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Dudley Foundation For The Future (1995-2002)
The seven-year scheme aims to raise educational attainment, particularly for ethnic minorities; enhance employment and enterprise focusing on assisting small businesses and improving manufacturing excellence; improve housing and the environment and increase energy efficiency. Although generally borough-wide in approach there is some targeting, particularly in the Central Dudley and Brierley Hills areas.
Key Outputs:
5,000 jobs created/safeguarded: 2,800 people obtaining qualifications; 530 new businesses; 4,500 new dwellings.
Costs:
Single Regeneration Budget Total: £13.1 million
Scheme Total: £43.2 million
Wren's Nest Comprehensive Area Regeneration--Dudley (1996-2000)
A six-year scheme from the Dudley Partnership Board. Developed from a Community Vision Conference, this scheme reflects the priorities of residents, local businesses, community organisations and public bodies. The Wren's Nest estate of almost 12,000 people is in one of the most deprived wards in Dudley. The scheme is intended to complement and extend the positive impact of Estate Action in the area. It will add value to that investment by raising skills levels, increasing the confidence and management ability of local people and promoting community safety.
Key Outputs:
90 jobs created/safeguarded plus 17,385 construction jobs, 820 people obtaining qualifications, 950 people obtaining jobs, 540 dwellings improved an 170 completed.
Costs:
Single Regeneration Budget Total: £10.4 million
Scheme Total: £36.6 million
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Impact On Employment (1996-2000)
A four-year scheme led by Stourbridge College, in partnership with the local ethnic minority community. The Partnership plans a range of initiatives to enhance confidence and skills within African and Caribbean communities. It will involve local employers more in promoting employment and training opportunities and targeting FE colleges to improve their response to this group by providing good practice models.
Key Outputs:
100 qualifications gained, 140 people obtaining jobs after training and 300 residents accessing employment following advice.
Costs:
Single Regeneration Budget Total: £175,000
Scheme Total: £630,000
Local Jobs For Local People (Dudley) (1998-2000)
This six-year scheme focuses on skilling for job opportunities at Merry Hill and local industrial estates. A training centre will be established offering programmes and child care with links to job vacancies at Merry Hill. Regeneration support will be given to the industrial estates to create jobs, which will also involve the training centres. New Deal support will be in creating opportunities for clients and involving residents who fall outside New Deal parameters.
Key Outputs:
3,100 training weeks; 300 residents accessing employment through training, 5,000 sq.m. new business/commercial floorspace.
Costs:
Single Regeneration Budget: £1.8 million
Scheme Total: £7 million.
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