§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many lorries used major roads in(a) north-west England and (b) Merseyside on the most recent date for which figures are suitable. [150181]
§ Mr. HillThe average daily flow of heavy goods vehicles on major roads in the north-west region in 1999 was about 1,700. The equivalent figure for the Merseyside region was 1,430.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the change in traffic speed on the trunk road network in the north-west of England over the last 12 months. [150092]
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§ Mr. HillNo systematic survey of trunk road speeds has been carried out over the past 12 months and it is not therefore possible to provide the information requested.
A national survey of trunk road speeds was last carried out in 1998. The DETR publication, "Traffic Speeds on English Trunk Road: 1998", reported an overall reduction in speeds on the network, including the north-west, since a previous survey in 1995.
The next survey is due to be undertaken this summer 2001 and results will become available in winter 2001. This will allow comparison of average speed in 2001 with those previously observed in 1998. It should be noted that the survey allows comparison of average speeds across the region. Due to the way the speeds are collected, however, the survey does not allow statistically reliable comparison at the detailed level of individual junctions on the network.