Roads (Hansard, 16 July 2002)

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government have done since 1997 to convince people to use methods of transport apart from the car. [69527]

§ Mr. Jamieson
We published our Integrated Transport White Paper in 1998, and our 10-year plan for Transport in 2000. These documents set out our policy for promoting choice for the travelling public. Initiatives we have taken or are taking to promote alternative forms of transport to the car includeIntroduction of Bus Quality Partnerships; introduction of a new Urban Bus Challenge Fund; guaranteeing half-fare travel concession for elderly and disabled people; Increased funding for rural transport; resulting in over 1,800 new or enhanced services so far in England alone. In supporting 150 innovative rural transport schemes under the Rural Bus Challenge scheme; Rural Transport Partnerships which we aim to have in every rural community in England by next year; Appointment of a new team of regional cycling co-ordinators, to support delivery of the National Cycling Strategy, and announced funding for the first 10 cycling projects under a new £2 million Cycling Projects Fund; Preparation .of a draft national walking strategy which will be issued for consultation in due course; £1.5 billion for local authorities in England to implement their Local Transport Plans in 2002–03. These include many measures designed to make public transport more available, more reliable and more attractive; Encouraging and supporting the take-up of travel plans by businesses, schools, hospitals, local authorities and other major employers: Establishment of "traveline"; a national telephone-based public transport information system; Working on "Transport Direct", an internet programme which aims to provide travellers with all the information they need. This will be online in 2003; Supporting a range of travel awareness campaigns including "Walk to School, Bike Week" and "In town, without my car".

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new road have been constructed since 1997. [69526]

§ Mr. Jamieson
The public road length of Great Britain at 1 April 2001 was estimated to be 3,066 miles longer than at 1 April 1997. Motorways accounted for 59 miles of this increase.
149W

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made with the plans for new toll roads and motorways. [69529]

§ Mr. Jamieson
There are no such plans. The M6 toll (the Birmingham northern relief road) is already under construction and is expected to open in early 2004.

Secondary fires¹by bridge area, UK 2000

Location/Item

Brigade Total secondary fires¹ Derelict buildings Grasslands/heathlands² Refuse Other¹

United Kingdom 241,357 4 24 61 10

England and Wales 197,253 4 24 61 11

England 179,753 4 22 63 11

England—non-Met counties 86,934 4 25 59 12

Avon 2,837 4 22 66 8

Bedfordshire 1,485 5 19 60 16

Berkshire 2,054 3 28 0 69

Buckinghamshire 1,888 2 14 66 18

Cambridgeshire 1,678 4 27 51 19

Cheshire 3,778 4 22 70 5

Cleveland 5,028 1 17 79 3

Cornwall 848 2 50 41 7

Cumbria 1,538 6 19 68 6

Derbyshire 2,244 5 29 53 13

Devon 2,314 5 25 60 11

Dorset 1,646 3 52 31 14

Durham 3,317 5 26 65 4

East Sussex 1,603 3 22 62 14

Essex 4,474 3 32 51 14

Gloucestershire 929 5 23 65 7

Hampshire 4,602 3 27 58 12

Hereford and Worcester 1,514 2 33 46 18

Hertfordshire 2,127 2 26 57 15

Humberside 4,819 5 18 71 6

Isle of Wight 172 4 38 51 8

Kent 4,326 3 17 57 23

Lancashire 6,451 4 12 77 7

Leicestershire 2,346 4 31 55 10

Lincolnshire 1,105 7 30 53 10

Norfolk 1,312 4 28 61 7

North Yorkshire 1,153 3 23 64 10

Northamptonshire 1,943 4 14 60 22

Northumberland 1,339 2 37 56 6

Nottinghamshire 3,620 5 42 42 10

Oxfordshire 999 3 24 61 13

Shropshire 1,209 2 39 52 7

Somerset 745 3 22 67 9

Staffordshire 3,233 4 35 54 7

Suffolk 979 2 32 53 13

Surrey 1,623 3 29 54 15

Warwickshire 1,443 8 30 48 15>

West Sussex 1,428 3 27 51 19

Wiltshire 780 3 24 63 9

Isles of Scilly 5 — 100 — —

England—Met counties 92,819 5 19 66 10

Greater Manchester 14,189 7 12 75 5

Merseyside 12,810 4 18 73 5

South Yorkshire 6,844 8 26 53 12

Tyne and Wear 8,821 2 22 69 6

West Midlands 12,855 5 31 55 8

West Yorkshire 10,908 8 14 68 11

Greater London 26,392 3 17 64 16

Secondary fires¹by bridge area, UK 2000
			Location/Item
Brigade	Total secondary fires¹	Derelict buildings	Grasslands/heathlands²	Refuse	Other¹
United Kingdom	241,357	4	24	61	10
England and Wales	197,253	4	24	61	11
England	179,753	4	22	63	11
England—non-Met counties	86,934	4	25	59	12
Avon	2,837	4	22	66	8
Bedfordshire	1,485	5	19	60	16
Berkshire	2,054	3	28	0	69
Buckinghamshire	1,888	2	14	66	18
Cambridgeshire	1,678	4	27	51	19
Cheshire	3,778	4	22	70	5
Cleveland	5,028	1	17	79	3
Cornwall	848	2	50	41	7
Cumbria	1,538	6	19	68	6
Derbyshire	2,244	5	29	53	13
Devon	2,314	5	25	60	11
Dorset	1,646	3	52	31	14
Durham	3,317	5	26	65	4
East Sussex	1,603	3	22	62	14
Essex	4,474	3	32	51	14
Gloucestershire	929	5	23	65	7
Hampshire	4,602	3	27	58	12
Hereford and Worcester	1,514	2	33	46	18
Hertfordshire	2,127	2	26	57	15
Humberside	4,819	5	18	71	6
Isle of Wight	172	4	38	51	8
Kent	4,326	3	17	57	23
Lancashire	6,451	4	12	77	7
Leicestershire	2,346	4	31	55	10
Lincolnshire	1,105	7	30	53	10
Norfolk	1,312	4	28	61	7
North Yorkshire	1,153	3	23	64	10
Northamptonshire	1,943	4	14	60	22
Northumberland	1,339	2	37	56	6
Nottinghamshire	3,620	5	42	42	10
Oxfordshire	999	3	24	61	13
Shropshire	1,209	2	39	52	7
Somerset	745	3	22	67	9
Staffordshire	3,233	4	35	54	7
Suffolk	979	2	32	53	13
Surrey	1,623	3	29	54	15
Warwickshire	1,443	8	30	48	15>
West Sussex	1,428	3	27	51	19
Wiltshire	780	3	24	63	9
Isles of Scilly	5	—	100	—	—
England—Met counties	92,819	5	19	66	10
Greater Manchester	14,189	7	12	75	5
Merseyside	12,810	4	18	73	5
South Yorkshire	6,844	8	26	53	12
Tyne and Wear	8,821	2	22	69	6
West Midlands	12,855	5	31	55	8
West Yorkshire	10,908	8	14	68	11
Greater London	26,392	3	17	64	16