§ Mr. KaufmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the percentage change in(a) deaths and (b) serious injuries on the roads of Manchester, Gorton has been since 1997. [167306]
§ Mr. DarlingThe available information relates to local authority areas. For the Manchester metropolitan district (which includes the constituency of Manchester, Gorton) the number of deaths in road accidents fell by 53 per cent. from 32 in 1997 to 15 in 2002, the latest year for which information is available. The number of serious injuries rose by 3 per cent., from 244 in 1997 to 252 in 2002. Estimates on the basis of parliamentary constituencies will become available in the summer and I shall write to my right hon. Friend with figures for Manchester, Gorton and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.