§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of motorway route miles in England are unlit; what plans he has to increase the provision of motorway lighting; and if he will make a statement. [120080]
227W
§ Mr. HillApproximately 70 per cent. of the motorway network in England is unlit.
Lighting is provided in high accident areas. The decision on whether to provide lighting is based on an assessment carried out in accordance with the DETR "New Approach to Appraisal". This covers an economic assessment of the capital, maintenance and energy costs against the potential savings as a result of the reduction in night time personal injury accidents; and an assessment of environmental impacts.
Apart from this, there is no programme to extend road lighting to unlit sections of motorway. The situation is kept under review.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people have been killed in road accidents on motorway hard shoulders in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [120078]
§ Mr. HillThe data requested are given in the table.
Casualties killed on entering or leaving a hard shoulder of motorway: Great Britain 1994–98 On lay-by/hard shoulder Entering lay-by/hard shoulder Leaving lay-by/hard shoulder All hard shoulder 1994 8 0 3 11 1995 8 3 0 11 1996 7 3 0 10 1997 4 0 1 5 1998 13 3 1 17