Motorcycles (Hansard, 18 April 2000)

§ Mr. Jenkin
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the benefits of reducing vehicle excise duty to zero for motorcycles under 125cc. [119598]

§ Mr. Hill
In November 1998, the Government consulted on a range of options for the environmental reform of Vehicle Excise Duty, including the creation of a new low VED band for motorcycles with engines up to 125cc. The benefits of motorcycle use are currently being examined in support of the work of the DETR's Advisory Group on Motorcycles. The outcome of those considerations will inform future decisions on Vehicle Excise Duty, which are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

§ Mr. Jenkin
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to encourage more commuters to travel into London by motorcycle. [119597]

§ Mr. Hill
As London is shortly to have a Mayor, this issue will be for his or her consideration in drawing up an integrated transport strategy. Section 142 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 makes it clear that the Mayor's integrated transport strategy should encompass all forms of transport.
The Government's policy on transport was set in the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" which, among other things, included a commitment to establish an advisory group on motorcycling. My noble Friend the Minister of State set up this group in May 1999.
The Government have also published guidance, which encourages local authorities to take account of motorcyclists when preparing their local transport plans.
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§ Mr. Jenkin
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to local authorities on developing their own motorcycle strategy. [119600]

§ Mr. Hill
Local authorities are due to submit five-year local transport plans (LTPs) to Government by 31 July 2000. LTPs will give local authorities the discretion to devise integrated transport strategies at the local level in partnership with the local community. Last month my Department issued local authorities with guidance on producing LTPs. This encouraged local authorities to take account of the contribution that powered two-wheelers can make in delivering integrated transport—for example their use in congested traffic conditions or as an alternative to the car in remote areas—and the needs of motorcyclists, including parking, interchange facilities and appropriate road maintenance. A copy of the guidance—"Guidance on Full Local Transport Plans"—has been placed in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Jenkin
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road accidents(a) involving motorcyclists and (b) in total were caused by spilled diesel fuel in each of the last three years; and if he will revise construction and use Regulations for goods vehicles and PSVs to ensure that spillage from diesel fuel tanks is prevented by tamper-proof physical measures within the tank itself. [119599]

§ Mr. Hill
In 1999 information on the presence of oil or diesel on the road surface at the site of road accidents was collected for the first time and the data are not yet available. However, early indications are that accidents involving oil or diesel are 0.2 per cent. of all accidents; of which, 30 per cent. involved motorcycles (less than 1 per cent. of motorcycle accidents). Vehicle construction standards are agreed at a European level. A recently agreed amendment to the European fuel tank Directive includes measures to minimise fuel spillage due to missing or insecure fuel caps. We will be implementing all the mandatory provisions of the Directive, and will be considering whether the optional provisions are likely to strengthen our current construction and use requirements.

§ Mr. Jenkin
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will encourage local authorities to exempt motorcycles from road user and workplace levy charging schemes. [119601]

§ Mr. Hill
Our response to our consultation paper, "Breaking the Logjam", which we published on 22 February, set out our policy on exemptions for motorcycles from road user charges and the workplace parking levy.
We intend to leave decisions on exemptions from road user charges to local discretion. Including motorcycles in a road user charging scheme would require practical difficulties to be overcome. We will explore these further with those local authorities that are actively considering a charging scheme as part of our Charging Development Partnership.
As to workplace parking levies, we propose that motorcycles should generally be exempt from counting towards a workplace parking licence total, but we will consider proposals from local authorities on their merits.