HC Deb 19 April 2000 vol 348 c485W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he has set targets for the Highways Agency for noise reduction and the use of noise-reducing surfaces; and if he will make a statement; [119760]

(2) if he will make a statement on his policy on reducing noise from trunk roads and motorways. [119761]

Mr. Hill

The Government set out their policy towards dealing with the problems of traffic noise on roads managed by the Highways Agency in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England". In addition to the increased use of quieter surfaces both for new roads and for roads needing maintenance, we proposed to set aside a budget for the Highways Agency to provide additional mitigation in the worst cases where no other action was being taken. The budget and qualifying criteria were announced on 22 March 1999 and a letter from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency listing locations which would be subject to a detailed investigation of feasible measures was published in the 11 November 1999,Official Report, columns 681–83.

For 2000–01, the Government have set a target for the Highways Agency to treat 10 sites from this list. Targets for future years will be reviewed in the light of progress.

I have not set any target for the use of quieter road surfaces in general because the Highways Agency routinely considers their use in all cases where a trunk road needs to be re-surfaced. The Highways Agency currently uses quieter materials for approximately 80 per cent. of the total amount of resurfacing undertaken.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the compensation payments made to residents in the proximity of the M25 for excessive road noise. [119762]

Mr. Hill

Details of individual settlements between the Highways Agency and the claimants are confidential. However, the overall compensation paid since 1 January 1995 to date under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 for noise and other factors is £24,213,027.

It is not possible to provide information on payments prior to this date as our records are not specific to schemes.