Tuesday 6 April
A5: Shropshire
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) what plans he has to widen the A5 between Wolfshead and Queen’s Head; and if he will make a statement; [325443]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the condition of the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border; and if he will make a statement. [325541]
Chris Mole: There are currently no plans to widen the A5 between Wolfshead and Queen’s Head. The A5 Queen’s Head to Wolfshead Widening scheme was submitted in the Regional Funding Advice submission to the Government at the end of February 2009. The West Midlands Regional Assembly’s decision was not to prioritise the scheme for funding in the period 2009-19.
The A5 between Wolfshead Roundabout and Shotatton is currently in good condition. The section of carriageway from Shotatton to Queens Head is due to be surface dressed between June and July 2010 to improve the condition of the surface. A survey is currently programmed to identify the causes of a surface water drainage issue approximately 400 metres south of the Queenshead Junction.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) how many people have been injured on the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border in each of the last 12 years; [325542]
(2) how many people have been killed on the A5 between Shrewsbury and the Shropshire/Wales border in each of the last 12 years. [325543]
Chris Mole: The following table shows the number of people killed or injured on the A5 between Telford and Shropshire/Wales border, in each of the last 12 years. These figures have been provided by the police and validated by the Department. It has not been possible to disaggregate the data to only report on Shrewsbury to Shropshire/Wales border casualties.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100406/text/100406w0004.htm#1004064000007
Hang Gliding and Paragliding: EU Action
Jacqui Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the possible effects on the sports of hang gliding and paragliding of proposals in the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation consultation on the draft Standardised European Rules of the Air; and if he will meet the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association to discuss the proposals. [325387]
Paul Clark: Eurocontrol is preparing the draft implementing rule on Standardised European Rules of the Air on behalf of the European Commission under the umbrella of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative.
The preliminary view of the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is that the proposals will not impact adversely on hang gliding and paragliding activities as the CAA, as the Competent Authority for the purposes of the legislation, will retain the discretion to permit visual flight rule flights. However, the UK will continue to seek clarity from Eurocontrol on the intent of the element of the regulation which concerns the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA).
The Department has set up a UK European Air Traffic Management Stakeholders Forum, as a requirement of the SES legislation, at which policy officials directly concerned in this work update aviation stakeholders across the board on SES proposals and elicit views. The BHPA are on the invitee list for the Forum which will next be convened in late spring. In the meantime, Eurocontrol’s consultation is still open till 12 April for the BHPA to express its concerns directly to the Agency.
Roads: Accidents
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many fatal road accidents there have been in North Shropshire constituency in each month of each year since 1997. [325440]
Paul Clark: The information requested in shown in the following table:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100406/text/100406w0005.htm
Wednesday 7 April 2010
Driving: Disqualification
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what progress has been made on the adoption of the 1998 European Convention on Driving Disqualifications; and what steps he has taken to promote mutual recognition of driving disqualifications in EU member states. [325677]
Paul Clark: On 28 January 2010 mutual recognition of driving disqualifications between the UK and Ireland entered into force.
We wish to gain practical experience with our arrangements with Ireland before considering mutual recognition with other member states.
