[{"topic":"Roads","id":"44229","proposer":"11707","edm":"97","session":"2012-13","title":"Use Of Bus Lanes By Private Hire Vehicles In Manchester","text":"That this House notes that in Manchester 2,500 private hire taxis are currently prohibited from using bus lanes, while 1,500 hackney cabs are permitted to do so; believes that this unfairly discriminates against private hire vehicles in Manchester and notes that 59 local authorities allow both private hire and hackney carriages to use bus lanes; and calls on Manchester City Council to be fair and consistent in its approach to the use of bus lanes by taxis and private hire vehicles.","date":"2012-05-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"44213","proposer":"24910","edm":"81","session":"2012-13","title":"Motorway Speeds","text":"That this House is opposed to plans to create 80 mph motorways; notes that research shows 80 mph motorways would result in 25 deaths and 100 serious injuries across Great Britain every year; further notes that the Committee on Climate Change showed it would result in 2.2 million tonnes of additional carbon emissions each year; believes that both such outcomes are unacceptable; congratulates No to 80, the coalition of road safety and environmental organisations, set up to highlight the detriments of 80 mph motorways in Great Britain; and calls on the Government to abandon proposals to increase the speed limit and instead set out how it will further the principles of preventing needless, devastating and costly crashes and reducing carbon emissions using the best evidence available.","date":"2012-05-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"44200","proposer":"10383","edm":"68","session":"2012-13","title":"Ban On Pedicabs During The London 2012 Olympics","text":"That this House notes with concern the danger posed by pedicabs to the general public and visitors to London during the Olympic and Paralympic Games; further notes that the drivers of such pedicabs have had no Criminal Records Bureau or police checks and as such may not be fit and proper persons; is dismayed by the lack of classification of pedicabs and subsequently lack of fare structure exposing the public and visitors to extortionate charges; is shocked that pedicabs have not been crash tested and are subsequently not possible to insure; and recognises that banning the operation of pedicabs during the Olympics is necessary to reduce congestion and in particular its impact on the emergency services.","date":"2012-05-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43798","proposer":"24794","edm":"2699","session":"2010-12","title":"Forth Rail Bridge Gold Blue Peter Badge","text":"That this House welcomes the award of the iconic Gold Blue Peter Badge to the Forth Rail Bridge; notes that the Bridge is the first manmade structure to receive the accolade; further notes that the Rail Bridge will now join an exclusive club which includes the Queen and David Beckham; recognises the significance of the award given that fewer than 1,000 of the gold badges have been awarded in Blue Peter's 53 year history; welcomes the award's recognition of the risk that individuals took in constructing the Bridge; and adds its thanks to those workers who risked their lives to bring Scotland such an outstanding piece of engineering.","date":"2012-02-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43801","proposer":"11672","edm":"2702","session":"2010-12","title":"Driving Licences And Dangerous Or Careless Driving","text":"That this House notes that the law currently allows those charged with serious driving offences, including death by dangerous or careless driving, to continue driving until sentencing, such as in the case of Jamie Still, a 16 year old killed on 31 December 2010 by a driver twice over the legal drink drive limit, who was allowed to continue driving for eight months following Jamie's death until being convicted in September 2011; considers it to be quite wrong for people who are charged with these offences to be allowed to continue driving; calls for the suspension of driving licences to be a condition of bail in all cases where the individual is charged with causing death by dangerous or careless driving; also recommends extending this to cases where an individual is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, having twice or more the legal limit of alcohol in their blood at the time of arrest; extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Jamie Still, and to those of all killed on Britain's roads in such incidents; and commits itself to supporting changes in the law to ensue that those charged with serious driving offences are prevented from driving until the court's verdict in their case.","date":"2012-02-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43593","proposer":"11707","edm":"2498","session":"2010-12","title":"School Crossing Patrols In Manchester","text":"That this House opposes the decision of Manchester City Council to axe some school crossing patrols and to try to pass on the cost of remaining patrols to local schools; notes the impact that such cuts will have on the safety of children travelling to school; supports the campaigns of the Manchester Evening News and local councillors to reverse these cuts; and urges Manchester City Council to abandon its plans and to support the Council Notice of Motion to reverse these cuts.","date":"2011-11-30","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43594","proposer":"11707","edm":"2499","session":"2010-12","title":"Saving Lives Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the Saving Lives Campaign ... Drive Safely Because i-Count launched by the charity Kids Count and other associated bodies; notes that the campaign draws attention to the seriousness of how many lives are lost or affected by inappropriate driving, and the importance of influencing young people to change their driving behaviour; further notes the campaign calls for additional road safety information throughout key stages 1 to 4, first-aid training for all learners, consideration by Government for mandatory motorway training for all newly-qualified drivers; and fully endorses Cheshire Think Drive Survive Course in creating safer, more responsible attitudes to road use by young people; commends this campaign which is youth-inspired and grass-roots led; and urges the Government to support the campaign.","date":"2011-11-30","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43580","proposer":"24892","edm":"2485","session":"2010-12","title":"Fuel Prices On Motorways","text":"That this House believes that fuel prices on motorways are too high; notes that a recent survey by WhatCar? found that fuel prices on motorways are up to 7.4 per cent. higher than the national average; further believes that the disproportionate cost of fuel on motorways is in part a result of the lack of competition between filling stations and a lack of information for drivers about the cost of fuel; further believes that the Government should take action to prevent the continuation of this captive market; and calls on the Government to make information on petrol prices at nearby filling stations available to drivers while they are on the motorway.","date":"2011-11-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43562","proposer":"11093","edm":"2467","session":"2010-12","title":"Tour Buses For The London 2012 Olympic Games","text":"That this House believes the London 2012 Olympic Games should be a showcase for Britishinnovation and manufacturing; notes that to date London Big Bus Tours' buses have been assembled in the UK; is concerned that the Big Bus Company Limited has ordered a new fleet for the Games from Chinese manufacturer Anhui Ankai Automobile; and calls on industry and the Government to support jobs in the UK.","date":"2011-11-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43442","proposer":"10288","edm":"2354","session":"2010-12","title":"Westminster Council Parking Restrictions","text":"That this House notes the proposal by Westminster City Council to extend on-street parking restrictions to midnight from Monday to Saturday and between 1.00pm and 6.00pm on Sundays; expresses concern at the impact that such restrictions will have on those working unsocial hours in the entertainment and leisure industries, which are a major component of the local Westminster economy; is particularly concerned about the effect this will have on women and more vulnerable workers who have to use their own transport at times when public transport is not running; and calls on Westminster Council to reconsider its parking proposals for those who need to be able to travel to and from work by car.","date":"2011-11-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43414","proposer":"10428","edm":"2326","session":"2010-12","title":"Fuel Duty Tax -\u0000 E-Petition","text":"That this House is aware of an e-Petition dealing with the question of fuel duty, supported by Fair Fuel UK, which has now surpassed its target of 100,000 signatures on the Government's own e-Petition site; understands that the Backbench Business Committee has decided a lack of Parliamentary timeprecludes this topic from being debated; and calls on the Government to fulfil its promise to find time for all such petitions which gatherat least the required100,000 citizens' signatures to be debated.","date":"2011-10-31","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43396","proposer":"24837","edm":"2308","session":"2010-12","title":"Mot Tests","text":"That this House welcomes recent Department for Transport statistics which show that the number of people killedin road accidents fell by 16 per cent. from 2,222 in 2009 to 1,857 in 2010; notes that this is the lowest figure since national records began in 1926; believes that the annual MOT test plays an important role in ensuring Britain's roads are among the safest in the world; is opposed to any move to reduce the frequency of MOT tests which can only have the effect of increasing the number of defective and unsafe vehicles on the road, increasing accidents and deaths and increasing insurance premiums and the cost of repairs for the law-abiding motorist; and calls on the Government to rule out any weakening of the MOT system as part of its forthcoming review.","date":"2011-10-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43368","proposer":"10754","edm":"2283","session":"2010-12","title":"School Transport","text":"That this House notes the cuts in school transport being made or proposed by many county councils and other local education authorities that will mean many parents especially mothers will find it impossible to work faced with now having to take children to and from school; believes this will particularly hit rural communities and make villages impossible to live in for many families; further believes this will cause congestion on roads that is bad for local businesses and the environment, will cause an additional financial burden to many working parents and will especially hit children who for entirely good reasons do not attend their absolute nearest school; further notes with grave concern that some councils are defining as `safe to walk' roads withno pavements or step-offs, heavy traffic and travelling at 60 mph, and which in fact put children at risk; and calls on local authorities to review these cuts and the Government urgently toreview the legislative framework that permits these cuts to be made.","date":"2011-10-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43325","proposer":"10527","edm":"2243","session":"2010-12","title":"Diabetes And Driving","text":"That this House notes with concern that the implementation of EU Directive 2009\/112\/EC may lead to the restriction of the freedom of the right to drive safely for people with diabetes; recognises that the EU Directive states that those who have more than one severe hypoglycaemia event within a 12-month period may be at the risk of losing their licence; further recognises the EU Directive's failure to specify that the severe hypoglycaemia events to be reported are those in waking hours, leading the DVLA to include hypoglycaemic events occurring during sleeping hours; and urges the Government to ensure that the Department of Transport and the DVLA provide clarity in their implementation of the Directive, specifying in detail how this will affect the driving rights of people with diabetes.","date":"2011-10-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43259","proposer":"10377","edm":"2181","session":"2010-12","title":"National Express Grant For Pensioners And The Disabled","text":"That this House recognises the importance to pensioners and the disabled that the National Express concession scheme is maintained during these tough economic conditions; is concerned by the Government's withdrawal of the grant offered to operating companies; further recognises the benefits in terms of independence of giving the disabled and those aged 60 years and over a concession for travel; and encourages the Government to continue to support this scheme from which three million people have benefited so far.","date":"2011-09-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43234","proposer":"11148","edm":"2156","session":"2010-12","title":"Coach Concessionary Travel","text":"That this House welcomes the decision by the Welsh Assembly Government to honour its pledge to retain the coach concessionary travel scheme for journeys that begin in Wales; acknowledges that the concession currently available to people with disability or those over 60 years in England and Wales has liberated many of these people; notes that in 2010 over three million journeys were made by passengers using the scheme; and calls on the Government not to cut the Bus Service Operator Grant on 31 October 2011 and maintain its commitment to concessionary bus travel in England.","date":"2011-09-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43197","proposer":"11923","edm":"2123","session":"2010-12","title":"Cumbria County Council School Transport Policy","text":"That this House notes with grave concern the plans put forward by Cumbria County Council to change the transport policy for prospective students planning to attend sixth form or further education colleges that exceed the statutory walking distance; further notes that the Council has specifically stated that a discounted travel pass will only be issued if the student is attending the nearest or catchment school or college where the distance exceeds the statutory walking distance and that course content and selection will not be considered when determining if a child is eligible for discounted travel; expresses concern that this will prevent some students from having the option to study subjects or courses not provided at their nearest catchment school or college due to the heavy financial burden it places upon their families to cover the cost of transport to a more distant school or college; acknowledges that some cuts to public services are essential in today's economic climate, but believes that this latest ruling by Cumbria County Council will disadvantage many young people in embarking upon their preferred choice of vocational pathway; and calls on Cumbria County Council to change its policy and ensure that course content and selection is a consideration for students wanting to access discounted transport to a more distant school or college.","date":"2011-08-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43190","proposer":"24946","edm":"2116","session":"2010-12","title":"Cost Of Motor Insurance","text":"That this House expresses concern over recent large increases in the cost of motor insurance; notes that the average of the lowest three quotes from 90 providers increased by 39.3 per cent. in the year to October 2010; recognises that this increase has disproportionately affected younger drivers and certain areas; further recognises that very high premiums increase the incidence of insurance fraud and encourage some people to drive without insurance, which further increases the premiums; further notes with concern that the number of personal injury claims has risen by over 70 per cent. in the last five years, despite a trend towards fewer casualties from road accidents during that period; further recognises the rising cost of personal injury claims as one of the main drivers of recent increases in insurance premiums; further notes the recommendation of Lord Justice Jackson's review of civil litigation costs that the payment of referral fees should be banned in the insurance industry; believes that responsible car owners should be able to access affordable motor insurance regardless of where they live; and calls on the Government to review the methods and resources available to the police to tackle uninsured drivers and insurance fraud and to work with the insurance industry to bring premiums down.","date":"2011-07-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43163","proposer":"11707","edm":"2092","session":"2010-12","title":"Driving When Tired","text":"That this House notes that driving after little sleep, or failing to take regular breaks duringlong drives, is lethal, with one in five fatal crashes on motorways and other monotonous roads caused by tired drivers; expresses concern that crashes caused by tired drivers tend to be at high speed, increasing the risk of serious injury or death and that recent research looking into the factors in tiredness crashes has shown that one in four drivers continue their journey despite feeling drowsy; further notes that drivers can avoid this drowsiness by managing their sleep needs and seeking medical helpif they often feel tired; further notes that a frequent cause of constant tiredness, particularly amongst commercial drivers, is obstructive sleep apnoea, a common sleep disorder that can make falling asleep at the wheel much more likely; welcomes recently-published independent research showing that weight loss using nutritional interventions and maintained over a year can considerably improve the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea; congratulates Brake, the road safety charity, on usingits Parliamentary Reception to draw attention to the dangers of tired drivers; and calls on policymakers to renew efforts to raise awareness of driver tiredness as a major cause of death and serious injury on the road and to take steps to prevent these casualties.","date":"2011-07-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43055","proposer":"10521","edm":"1986","session":"2010-12","title":"Local Bus Services","text":"That this House recognises that two thirds of public transport journeys are made by bus; believes that buses play a vital role in society, linking people to work, education, shops and services, keeping the elderly self-sufficient, supporting local economies and offering an immediate lower carbon alternative to car use; notes that hundreds of local authority supported bus services deemed socially necessary are being withdrawn; is concerned that the decision to reduce the Bus Service Operators Grant by 20 per cent. from 2012 will further damage the bus network and undermine Government objectives to tackle unemployment and promote equal opportunities and social mobility, particularly in rural areas; and calls on the Government to ensure buses receive the funding and support that they need to play their part in keeping the country mobile and on the road to recovery.","date":"2011-06-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43038","proposer":"24767","edm":"1969","session":"2010-12","title":"Maximum Sentence For Dangerous Driving","text":"That this House believes that victims should be at the heart of the justice system; recognises that many victims of dangerous drivers are left with horrendous injuries, some have been left brain damaged, paralysed or with amputations and as long as the victim does not die the maximum sentence for dangerous driving is two years; further recognises that an increase to the maximum sentence for dangerous driving has widespread support from groups such as AA, Brake and The Victims Commissioner; notes that both the Labour Party and Conservative Party committed to increasing the sentence before the 2010 general election; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure justice for victims of dangerous driving by increasing the maximum sentence from two years to seven years.","date":"2011-06-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43014","proposer":"10133","edm":"1945","session":"2010-12","title":"Peace And Brian Haw","text":"That this House notes with sadness the passing of Brian Haw, whose protest camp in Parliament Square, initially against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and then all wars, has stood for a decade and resisted all legal and political challenges to its existence; supports the principles behind the protest camp and regards its existence as a formidable example of the possibilities for peaceful dissent at a time when civil liberties are being eroded and military power is being employed over negotiated peace; further notes Mr Haw's relentless discipline in ensuring that he be seen by hon. Members going about their business every day as a constant reminder of the consequences of their decisions for the lives of thousands of innocent people and subsequent generations; further notes the political inspiration that he was to so many, with his handcrafted placards about the innocent lives lost as a result of war; trusts that his inspiration lives on as an influence to those in Parliament who make the decisions, and to the public whose role it is to hold decisionmakers in Parliament to account so that they might work toward bringing about peace in their time; and calls for a fitting permanent memorial to be established in Parliament.","date":"2011-06-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"43015","proposer":"10057","edm":"1946","session":"2010-12","title":"Brian Haw","text":"That this House notes the endurance of Brian Haw; remembers too the dedication of Lieutenant-Commander Bill Boaks who, before his death 25 years ago, dedicated his life to road casualty reduction; furthernotes the range of views on Brian Haw's cause and his methods; believes it could be appropriate for a memorial service in Westminster to mark his passing; and also hopes that to mark his life the unsightly camp of hangers-on in Parliament Square ends and a plaque be set in the pavement.","date":"2011-06-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42847","proposer":"11324","edm":"1786","session":"2010-12","title":"Young Driver Safety","text":"That this House notes the 8,189 young people aged 16 to 25 who have been killed on UK roads in the last 10 years; recognises the urgent need for the House to act to prevent more such needless and tragic deaths; further recognises the opportunity that the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety, which commences on 11 May 2011, offers to this House to take a bold step towards preventing young deaths on the road in the next decade; further notes the evidence that a system of Graduated Driver Licensing, encompassing a minimum learning period and a restricted novice driving period, would help to reduce road casualties; further recognises that such a step has the support of road safety charity Brake and the Association of British Insurers; and congratulates Brake forits work to promote road safety and support people who have been bereaved or seriously injured in a road crash.","date":"2011-05-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42752","proposer":"10383","edm":"1697","session":"2010-12","title":"Motor Insurance For Young People","text":"That this House notes with concern the high cost of car insurance for young and newly qualified drivers, with quotes for insurance reaching 8,000 per annum; recognises that this can impair the ability of young people to seek and gain employment in many areas where public transport is not a viable travel to work option, can prevent young people gaining sufficient driving experience and can lead to some young people driving without any insurance; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to require the insurance industry to bring forward proposals to reform insurance arrangements for young drivers, possibly by the use of excess charges, to ensure that motor insurance is available at a reasonable cost for young drivers.","date":"2011-03-31","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42648","proposer":"10377","edm":"1600","session":"2010-12","title":"Road Traffic Accident Prevention","text":"That this House recognises the 28,880 people who have been killed on UK roads in the last 10 years for which records are available between 2000 and 2009; further recognises that many needless deaths and injuries were prevented by leadership through casualty reduction targets and a clear vision of reducing deaths and serious injuries on the roads to 2010; further recognises the opportunity that the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety, which commences on 11 May 2011, offers to this House an opportunityto lay forth a bold agenda for action to prevent further road deaths and injuries; calls for strong targets for road casualty reductions to be incorporated into the strategic framework for road safety to 2020, which is due to be published in April 2011, to further the reduction of deaths and serious injuries on the roads; further calls for a strong vision to be laid forth in the strategic framework for road safety that recognises that all road deaths are preventable; and congratulates Brake for their work to support people who have been bereaved or seriously injured in a road crash.","date":"2011-03-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42655","proposer":"11707","edm":"1607","session":"2010-12","title":"Report By The Parliamentary Advisory Council For Transport Safety On Where Next For Road Safety?","text":"That this House acknowledges the conclusions drawn in the report Tackling the Deficit: where next for road safety? by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safetyand the RAC Foundation on the importance of having a national strategy; notes the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development'sfinding that countries with casualty reduction targets had 17 per cent. lower fatalities than countries without targets; and calls on the Government to recognise this evidence by maintaining the UK's commitment to this approach.","date":"2011-03-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42418","proposer":"10096","edm":"1393","session":"2010-12","title":"Collisions Involving Motor Vehicles And Cyclists Or Pedestrians","text":"That this House acknowledges that manyother European countries have much better cyclist and pedestrian safety records than the UK; recognises that these countries apply the principle of stricter liability to vulnerable road victims, so that drivers of vehicles that hit cyclists or pedestrians are assumed liable unless they can prove their innocence; believes that this makes drivers more aware of the vulnerability of children, cyclists and pedestrians; notes that, in contrast in UK road traffic personal injury cases, the burden of proof is on the victim to prove the other party was negligent; is aware of research that shows the fatality rate of cyclists, aged 10 to 14, involved in collisions with motor vehicles is five times worse in the UK than in the Netherlands and Sweden; and calls on the Government to bring road traffic personal injury legislation into line with workplace health and safety law, product liability law and car passenger protection by adoption of the principle of stricter liability.","date":"2011-02-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42379","proposer":"24917","edm":"1358","session":"2010-12","title":"Salt Reserves","text":"That this House considers the Department for Transport's actions in managing and prioritising salt supplies by stealth whilst insisting that there is no crisis, denying that it is putting pressure on salt mines and suppliers to withhold supplies properly negotiated and ordered by some local authorities, whilst prioritising orders from other local authorities, to be disingenuous; and calls on the Department for Transport to publish immediately open and transparent details of the meetings of SALTCELL, which it considers tohave been re-named to avoid questions from hon. Members on these issues, along with details of the local authorities prioritised, and the tonnage supplied to such authorities and to take immediate steps to prioritise salt supplies to local authorities such as Durham County Council which, having learnt lessons from the previous winter, increased itssalt reserves, properly ordered appropriate levels of salt in advance, increased storage facilities, increased winter maintenance vehicles and equipment, sourced salt globally, and which still finds itself crucially short of salt due to the actions of the Departmentfor Transport.","date":"2011-01-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42313","proposer":"11312","edm":"1294","session":"2010-12","title":"Closure Of Local Driving Test Centres","text":"That this House notes with concern the programme of closures of local driving test centres, including Arbroath and Forfar in Angus constituency; further notes that there have been 22 such closures in the last two years and that many such closures are being undertaken without any consultation with those directly affected or the local community; believes such closures are against the Government's own announced policy of localism; and calls on the Department for Transport to suspend immediately any such closures and toinstruct the Driving Standards Agency that no closures may be undertaken without a full public consultation.","date":"2011-01-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42253","proposer":"24966","edm":"1240","session":"2010-12","title":"Jeremy Clarkson Proposal For Speed Cameras","text":"That this House notes that speed cameras have become increasingly prevalent in recent years; further notes that many motorists believe they exist solely for revenue raising purposes; believes that Jeremy Clarkson was right to advocate fixing signs to the back of the cameras with the speed limit on; further believes that this will make cameras easier to see, reducing traffic speed and cutting the number of penalty charge notices issued; and demands that the Government and local authorities consider this proposal very closely.","date":"2011-01-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42223","proposer":"24966","edm":"1210","session":"2010-12","title":"Fuel Price Increases","text":"That this House notes with concern the recent increases in fuel prices; further notes that this increase has made it hard for haulage companies across the country; demands that oil producers end the OPEC cartel that pushes up prices and restricts the free market; further demands that the Government looks urgently at fuel tax cuts to help all drivers and essential user rebates specifically to help businesses such as hauliers; and believes that fuel price reductions will help the economy and give much needed respite to the hard-pressed haulage industry.","date":"2010-12-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42191","proposer":"24848","edm":"1179","session":"2010-12","title":"Purchase Of Salt, Grit And Potash From British Sources","text":"That this House believes that it makes economic and environmental sense to purchase salt, grit and potash from domestic sources, particularly during periods of increased demand; supports local suppliers such as Boulby Potash mine in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency; notes the boost this would give to these suppliers; further notes that this would avoid the unnecessary environmental cost of transporting goods from overseas; and therefore calls on the Highways Agency and the Department for Transport to wherever possible purchase from British suppliers.","date":"2010-12-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42137","proposer":"10076","edm":"1131","session":"2010-12","title":"Un Decade Of Action For Road Safety 2011-2020","text":"That this House endorses the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety which has the goal of stabilising and then reducing global road deaths by 2020, potentially saving up to five million lives; thanks Sir Martin Sorrell and WPP for their pro bono work designing the `Tag' global symbol for the Decade of Action; notes the World Health Organization's estimate that 1.3 million people will die on the world's roads in 2010; recognises that 90 per cent. of such deaths occur in developing countries; further notes that the lack of attention to road safety impacts on delivery of the Millennium Development Goals, not least through the burden on health systems and the million children each year denied life or an education because they are killed or seriously injured on the roads; congratulates the Department for International Development on its commitment, pledged at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, to support the World Bank Global Road Safety Facility in ensuring safe investment in all overseas aid-funded road programmes; further notes the UK's current position as the best performing nation in the world, measured by deaths per 100,000 population; deplores the fact that six people are still tragically killed on the country's roads each day; urges the Department for Transport to provide an ambitious UK strategic framework for further casualty reductions through the Decade of Action; and calls on the Government to play a full and positive role in the global Decade of Action, beginning with the official launch on 11 May 2011.","date":"2010-12-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42074","proposer":"10521","edm":"1084","session":"2010-12","title":"Speed Cameras And Road Safety","text":"That this House welcomes a report from the RAC Foundation which confirms that each year the presence of speed cameras prevents 800 people from being killed or seriously injured on Britain's roads, which means that not only are families spared the trauma of the loss of loved ones but also the national economy is saved in the region of 2 billion based on the estimated cost of road deaths and serious injuries; congratulates Professor Richard Allsop of University College London for undertaking the research and the RAC Foundation for commissioning it; and calls on the Government to prevail upon highways authorities to recognise the value of speed cameras in making the nation's roads safer and that removal of them would be a false economy.","date":"2010-11-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"42049","proposer":"10534","edm":"1059","session":"2010-12","title":"Road Safety Week","text":"That this House supports Road Safety Week, which takes place on22 to 28 November 2010; notes that the main theme is the need for drivers to slow down to protect children, and to raise awareness of the 195 children killed and 4,188 seriously injured on UK roads in 2009; further notes that although the UK has the second lowest road death rate in the EU, its child pedestrian death rate is worse than 10 other EU countries, and eight times higher than Sweden's; further notes that during Road Safety Week children, parents, schools and families bereaved by speeding drivers will be calling on drivers to slow down to 20 mph or below around schools, homes and shops; calls on the Government to reduce the default urban limit to 20 mph in line with research from a large study, of the impact of 20 mph zones in London demonstrating that 20 mph limits are associated with a 41.9 per cent. reduction in road casualties, by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and congratulates the work of Brake, the road safety charity, which organises Road Safety Week and seeks to decrease road crashes through education and campaigns and reduce the suffering of bereaved and injured road crash victims through support services.","date":"2010-11-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41862","proposer":"24784","edm":"881","session":"2010-12","title":"Service Standards And The Kitemark For Garages","text":"That this House believes that the British Standards Institution (BSI) Kitemark for Garage Services is a good way of boosting public confidence in some garages, by supplying formal recognition of good workmanship and value for money; notes research which shows that 58 per cent. of people who have had a car serviced in a garage before are not entirely confident that the work they have paid for has actually been carried out; further notes that similar Kitemark schemes elsewhere have had a positive impact; and therefore calls for public support for the BSI Kitemark for Garage Services as the economy grows.","date":"2010-10-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41741","proposer":"10141","edm":"775","session":"2010-12","title":"Drive For Justice Campaign","text":"That this House supports the Drive for Justice Campaign, backed by The Bolton News, which is calling for an increase to the maximum tariff for dangerous drivers who cause serious injury; recognises the large gap between the maximum injury by dangerous driving sentence of two years and the maximum death by dangerous driving sentence of 14 years in prison; and calls on the Government to provide judges with the necessary flexibility to sentence based on the extent of injury caused to ensure that justice can be delivered.","date":"2010-10-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41685","proposer":"24848","edm":"725","session":"2010-12","title":"Closed Road Events","text":"That this House believes that the UK is losing out both in sporting and economic terms as a direct result of the law that requires an Act of Parliament to suspend the Road Traffic Act on a stretch of the public highway, which has put a stop to successful motor sport events like the Saltburn Hill Climb; notes that throughout Europe closed road events bring great benefit to the local communities in terms of tourism, economic prosperity and sporting kudos; and calls on the Government to introduce a mechanism to deliver a Temporary Suspension Order in association with local authorities that would enable a limited annual number of closed road events such as the Saltburn Hill Climb to take place in England, Wales and Scotland, which, based on estimates by the Motor Sports Association, could deliver substantial benefits to local areas of between 20 million and 60 million each year.","date":"2010-09-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41609","proposer":"10367","edm":"652","session":"2010-12","title":"Parking Control Ltd","text":"That this House deplores the actions of Manchester-based company Parking Control Ltd in charging a Blue Badge holder 275 for parking on a petrol station forecourt in Hull; notes that this included 150 for calling a tow truck that did not arrive; is concerned that the company left a severely-ill man waiting for over an hour in freezing weather in order to elicit the extra towing fee; is aware that the company has repeatedly failed to respond to letters and telephone calls over several months; and calls on the Government to urgently bring forward the measures outlined in the Crime and Security Act 2010 to introduce a compulsory licensing scheme for all wheel clamping businesses, limit the size of penalties imposed, regulate towing practices and put in place an effective and fair appeals process.","date":"2010-07-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41578","proposer":"10436","edm":"621","session":"2010-12","title":"Domestic Road Freight Market","text":"That this House notes the increasing share of the UK domestic road freight market taken up by overseas registered vehicles; further notes that these vehicles pay nothing in terms of vehicle excise duty to the UK Exchequer, and under cabotage regulations can operate three times in seven days in the UK without any compulsion to fill their tank and pay fuel duty; regrets the negative impact this disparity in the cost of doing business is having on UK road freight operators; and calls on the Government to find an appropriate mechanism to ensure that this massive competitive advantage overseas operators enjoy in the UK market is reduced as a matter of urgency.","date":"2010-07-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41522","proposer":"10170","edm":"565","session":"2010-12","title":"Sleep Apnoea And Road Deaths","text":"That this House notes that obstructive sleep apnoea is a common sleep disorder potentially causing drowsiness during waking hours that makes falling asleep at the wheel much more likely; expresses concern that recent academic research suggested that one in six lorry drivers may suffer from the disorder; further notes that, if left undiagnosed and untreated, sufferers pose a direct threat to themselves and others on the road when driving; further notes that one of the key causes of obstructive sleep apnoea is being overweight or obese and that long term, managed weight loss can contribute to effective treatment; welcomes recently published independent research which demonstrates that weight loss achieved using nutritional interventions and maintained over a year can considerably improve the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea; congratulates Brake, the road safety charity, on using its Parliamentary Reception to draw attention to the dangers of obstructive sleep apnoea; and calls on policymakers and practitioners to ensure that obstructive sleep apnoea is effectively diagnosed and treated to prevent sufferers of the disorder adding to the terrible toll of death and injury on roads.","date":"2010-07-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41479","proposer":"10329","edm":"526","session":"2010-12","title":"Designated Drivers","text":"That this House notes that when driving at twice the legal alcohol limit a driver is at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash than a driver who has not been drinking; welcomes the Budweiser's Designate a Driver anti-drink drive advertising campaign run during the 2010 World Cup as a part of the company's commitment to responsible drinking; and encourages observance of this company's message by designating a driver.","date":"2010-07-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41416","proposer":"11420","edm":"464","session":"2010-12","title":"Blood Alcohol Content","text":"That this House notes that opinion relating to the effect of reducing the blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for drivers from 80 to 50 mg\/dl varies; further notes that the 2008 report of Daniel Albalate says `the 0.5 mg\/ml BAC limits are not found to be statistically significant for the whole population when one controls for other concurrent policies and infrastructure quality, which can confound policy effects'; recognises that Portugal reversed a reduction in the BAC limit introduced in 2001 as it was found not to have significant benefits; further notes that the research commissioned by the National Institutefor Health and Clinical Excellence and performed by the University of Sheffield is based upon the assumption that the change in limit in Australia in 1991 was the only factor causing the reduction in all BAC levels in Australia, an improbable conclusion; further notes that BAC levels in the UK are already lower than those at the end of the sample period in Australia; further recognises that criminalising people who drink only one pint of beer before driving is a legislative change that requires reliable evidence as to its benefits; further notes that one potential conclusion of the research is that a more effective policy tool may be to require novice drivers to have a limit of 20 mg\/dl whilst not changing the limit for experienced drivers; and calls for further work to be done and a review as to trends in BAC levels in the UK to be published and used to inform the Sheffield research before any changes to legislation are tabled.","date":"2010-07-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41364","proposer":"24784","edm":"421","session":"2010-12","title":"Traffic In Harlow And The M11 Corridor","text":"That this House notes that Harlow has only one motorway entrance, unlike other major towns and that recent road improvements have not solved this problem; is concerned that congestion causes a huge economic cost to Harlow and the M11 corridor; agrees with every major public sector body and private business in the area that an extra junction on the M11 (7a) would massively boost jobs and private sector investment in the region, create higher tax receipts and more jobs for Harlow; believes that the cost of an extra junction would be very modest, given the available investment from local housing developments; and therefore calls on the Government to consider investment in an extra junction when the public debt and deficit has been reduced.","date":"2010-07-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41380","proposer":"11707","edm":"437","session":"2010-12","title":"Rac 2010 Report On Motoring","text":"That this House welcomes the research carried out by the RAC 2010 Report on Motoring into views and behaviour of modern motorists; recognises ways in which Government can work with motorists to improve the quality of motoring in the UK including considering a lower drink-drive limit, ensuring return on investment for motorists through improved local road conditions and stronger law enforcement against those breaking the law and jeopardising road safety; notes the decline in motorists' concern about the environmental impact of driving and their ability to reduce the impact; and furtherrecognises there is work to be done to empower and educate motorists to make environmental choices easier and more effective.","date":"2010-07-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41316","proposer":"24784","edm":"376","session":"2010-12","title":"British Standards Institution Kitemark For Garages","text":"That this House believes that the British Standards Institution (BSI) Kitemark for Garage Services is a good step forward in supplying formal recognition of the good workmanship of some garages and their value for money; notes research which shows that 58 per cent. of people who have had a car serviced in a garage before are not totally confident that the work they have paid for has been carried out; further notes that the BSI is an independent body that owns and operates the Kitemark scheme, and has done much to improve consumer confidence in the quality of a good or service; and therefore calls on the Government to support the BSI Kitemark for Garage Services as a demonstration of compliance to a known national standard.","date":"2010-07-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41189","proposer":"11707","edm":"266","session":"2010-12","title":"North Review And The Drink Drive Limit","text":"That this House recognises the number of people killed and seriously injured as a result of collisions involving drivers over the legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit; notes the publication of Sir Peter North's Review of Drink and Drug Driving; further notes that with a BAC limit of between 50mg\/100ml and the current 80mg\/100ml limit a driver has a six times greater risk of road death than a non-drinking driver; further notes Sir Peter's estimation that a reduction of the BAC limit from 80mg\/100ml to 50mg\/100ml could save around 168 lives per year; and calls on the Government to implement Sir Peter's recommendations to reduce the BAC limit to 50mg\/100ml and to maintain the current 12-month mandatory driving ban for drivers found to be at the lower limit.","date":"2010-06-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41123","proposer":"24809","edm":"200","session":"2010-12","title":"Mileage Rate For Volunteer Drivers","text":"That this House recommends HM Revenue and Customs revisit the 40 pence per mile rate which volunteer drivers are reimbursed for using their own cars with a view to raising the maximum limit; recognises that the rate was set in 2002 when fuel was less costly; and further recognises the impact there would be on the NHS if voluntary car drivers felt they could no longer afford to contribute in this way.","date":"2010-06-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41116","proposer":"11798","edm":"193","session":"2010-12","title":"Unadopted Roads","text":"That this House notes that there are an estimated 40,000 unadopted roads in England and Wales; expresses concern that often people who live on unadopted roads struggle to access public services and to meet costs of maintenance, for which they are personally liable; calls on the Government to undertake an investigation into the numbers of unadopted roads in England and Wales; recognises that many communities find unadopted roads a problem, which is not fully addressed; and further calls on the Government to consider amending section 38 of the Highways Act 1980, to encourage the adoption of unadopted roads and to investigate other courses of action to address the problem.","date":"2010-06-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"41107","proposer":"11324","edm":"184","session":"2010-12","title":"Graduated Driver Licensing","text":"That this House recognises that the number of road traffic accidents involving young people has increased over recent years; notes that the introduction of graduated driver licences in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the USA and some European countries has reduced the number of deaths and injuries associated with young drivers; acknowledges that the introduction of these schemes has proved popular with many young drivers in other countries by giving them a sense of empowerment and confidence in their driving ability; further notes that the introduction of a similar scheme in the UK would lead to a reduction in the number of people killed on British roads, particularly young people; understands that the introduction of a scheme could result in an estimated 15 fewer deaths, 1,000 fewer casualties and a saving to the economy of \u00a356 million each year in Wales alone; and calls on the Department for Transport to look at ways in which a pilot scheme could be introduced in the UK to determine the impact it would have on road safety.","date":"2010-06-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40925","proposer":"11707","edm":"11","session":"2010-12","title":"Retro-Reflective Markings And Heavy Goods Vehicles","text":"That this House notes that the rate of fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) remains high, causing 15 per cent. of all road fatalities, despite accounting for only 5.6 per cent. of UK road traffic; recognises that retro-reflective markings along the side and rear of HGVs have been proved to be an effective means of increasing HGVs visibility and reducing accidents and improving safety for hauliers and all other road users; applauds Reflect for its work on promoting the benefits of these markings; and calls on all haulage companies to sign up to a voluntary code of practice to fit retro-reflective markings on HGVs, prior to it becoming mandatory for newly-registered vehicles in June 2011.","date":"2010-05-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40932","proposer":"24774","edm":"18","session":"2010-12","title":"Deferral Of Improvements To The A453","text":"That this House notes with concern the Government's decision not to proceed with much needed improvements to the A453 road between the M1 and the City of Nottingham; believes that the resultant congestion and traffic delays are a restraint on the economic prospects, safety and convenience of millions of people across Nottinghamshire; calls on the Department for Transport urgently to re-consider the need for this crucial transport investment; and urges Ministers to consider the potentially damaging ramifications for the linked tram public transport improvements if key elements of the A453 upgrade plans do not proceed.","date":"2010-05-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40908","proposer":"10534","edm":"1246","session":"2009-10","title":"Deaths Of Motorcyclists","text":"That this House is saddened and distressed by the 53,697 deaths of motorcyclists since 1950 on British roads; notes that since a high point of 1,743 deaths in 1960 a level was reached in 2008 of 493 deaths; further commends all those, including motorcyclists and motorcyclists' organisations, that have contributed to this reduction; further notes that all too often motorcycle accidents are caused as a direct result of the abysmal road behaviour of car drivers; and further calls for co-ordinated efforts to significantly reduce this avoidable cause of death and serious injury.","date":"2010-04-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40772","proposer":"11707","edm":"1130","session":"2009-10","title":"Retro-Reflective Markings And Heavy Goods Vehicles","text":"That this House notes that the rate of fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) remains disproportionately high, causing 75 per cent. of all road fatalities despite accounting for only 5.6 per cent. of UK road traffic; recognises that retro-reflective markings along the side and rear of HGVs have been proved to be an effective means of reducing accidents, improving safety for hauliers and all other road users; applauds Reflect for its work on promoting the benefits of these markings; and calls on all haulage companies to sign up to a voluntary code of practice to fit retro-reflective markings on HGVs, prior to it becoming mandatory for newly-registered vehicles in June 2011.","date":"2010-03-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40709","proposer":"11589","edm":"1074","session":"2009-10","title":"Un Decade Of Action For Road Safety","text":"That this House endorses the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety which is aimed at halving the projected increase in road deaths worldwide by 2020 and saving an estimated five million lives; notes the Commission for Global Road Safety's estimate that 1.3 million people will die on the world's roads in 2010 with about 40 times as many seriously injured; recognises that some 90 per cent. of such deaths and injuries will occur in developing countries in many of which death by traffic is a bigger killer than malaria or tuberculosis; deplores the human costs of preventable road carnage which far outweigh the impact of terrorism and regrets the economic costs and service pressures which it brings for many poor countries, estimated at between one and three per cent. of gross domestic product a year; supports the Decade of Action's call for government leadership and meaningful targets in respect of drink-driving, speed, seatbelt and safety helmet use, safer road design and planning, traffic management and vehicle regulation; calls for international donors to support a $300 million action plan from the Make Roads Safe campaign; and welcomes Bloomberg Philanthropies' $125 million contribution towards such a plan.","date":"2010-03-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40688","proposer":"11324","edm":"1056","session":"2009-10","title":"Graduated Driver Licensing","text":"That this House recognises that the number of road traffic accidents involving young people has increased over recent years; notes that the introduction of graduated driver licences in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US and some European countries has reduced the number of deaths and injuries associated with young drivers; acknowledges that the introduction of these schemes has proved popular with many young drivers in other countries by giving them a sense of empowerment and confidence in their driving ability; further notes that the introduction of a similar scheme in the UK would lead to a reduction in the number of people killed on British roads, particularly young people; understands that the introduction of a scheme could result in an estimated 15 fewer deaths, 1,000 fewer casualties and an annual saving to the economy of \u00a356 million in Wales alone; and calls on the Department for Transport to look at ways in which a pilot scheme could be introduced in Britain to determine the impact it would have on road safety.","date":"2010-03-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40678","proposer":"10295","edm":"1050","session":"2009-10","title":"Road Surface Treatments","text":"That this House notes with concern that less than 10 per cent. of the \u00a346 billion tax collected each year from motorists is used to maintain Britain's crumbling roads; further notes that following bad weather this winter, areas all over the country have seen an unprecedented increase in potholes, resulting in a 30 per cent. increase in motor claims; is alarmed by reports that the poor state of the local road network is costing the national economy some \u00a320 billion every year and costs councils an annual \u00a353 million in compensation claims; calls on the Government to recognise that the national economy, local highway budgets and motorists' wallets would all benefit from regular road maintenance rather than emergency repairs; and further calls on the Government to allocate more money to planned highway maintenance as a matter of urgency, rather than waiting for the next bout of bad weather.","date":"2010-03-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40624","proposer":"11798","edm":"1002","session":"2009-10","title":"Motorcycle Testing","text":"That this House notes that, following the introduction of a new motorcycle test on 27 April 2009, Driving Standards Agency figures show that 50,000 fewer people took the motorcycle test in the period to 31 January 2010 than in the same period in 2008; further notes that 45 learners crashed attempting the new test during its first nine weeks, resulting in 12 hospitalisations; further notes that the majority of crashes occurred during the new swerve and stop exercise, which has been combined into one exercise in Module One of the new test; further notes that this is not obligatory under the European directive which prompted the introduction of the new test; further notes that the new test has resulted in a reduction in test centres, requiring longer journeys for inexperienced riders to access test facilities; is concerned that inaction to tackle this lack of test centres and combined swerve and stop exercise could lead to a decline in the overall number of motorcyclists and the motorcycle industry as a whole; congratulates Motorcycle News and the Motorcycle Action Group on their campaign to have these issues addressed; and calls on the Government to consider separating the two elements of the swerve and stop exercise and to investigate how the availability of test centres could be addressed.","date":"2010-03-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40603","proposer":"11719","edm":"983","session":"2009-10","title":"Use Of Public Transport By Public Servants","text":"That this House notes with interest the comments made by Sir Trevor Phillips in The Sunday Times on 28 February 2010 regarding first class rail travel by hon. Members; suggests that Sir Trevor leads by example by dispensing with the services of his publicly-funded chauffeur-driven car, and ending his use of taxis to navigate London; and looks forward to being able to greet Sir Trevor on buses and underground trains which are widely used by members of the public and hon. Members who do not occupy senior roles in Government quangos.","date":"2010-03-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40615","proposer":"11245","edm":"968A1","session":"2009-10","title":"4x4 Vehicles On Rights Of Way","text":"after 'vehicles;', insert 'and by the improper parking of vehicles on rights of way'.","date":"2010-03-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40616","proposer":"11245","edm":"968A2","session":"2009-10","title":"4x4 Vehicles On Rights Of Way","text":"at end add 'including where rights of way are over private land.'.","date":"2010-03-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40588","proposer":"11324","edm":"968","session":"2009-10","title":"4x4 Vehicles On Rights Of Way","text":"That this House notes that damage is being done to rights of way by their illegal use by drivers of 4x4s and other mechanically-driven vehicles; further notes the difficulty in bringing prosecutions and the unwillingness of the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges to court; and therefore urges the Government to implement fixed penalty notices for these offences to discourage these damaging activities.","date":"2010-03-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40505","proposer":"11784","edm":"896","session":"2009-10","title":"Inquiry Into Light Rail And The City Regions","text":"That this House supports the finding of the inquiry into light rail and the city regions conducted by the All-Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group which concludes that modern trams support the transformation of the urban realm and contribute to giving cities the greener and more efficient transport systems they need; and calls on the Department for Transport to act on the recommendations of the report, in particular that the Department should provide greater leadership on light rail by providing a clear national policy, funding framework and centre for expertise, remove biases against modern trams from the appraisal process, and assist in ensuring that the high charges levied by utilities companies in relation to the construction of modern tram schemes are addressed.","date":"2010-02-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40393","proposer":"10790","edm":"794","session":"2009-10","title":"Smarter Travel Choices","text":"That this House notes the success of Smarter Choices initiatives in providing transport advice and information resulting in significant reductions in car trips and increased use of low carbon transport modes including buses, car sharing, cycling and walking; further notes the success of the Department for Transport's pilot projects in Darlington, Peterborough and Worcester; further notes the Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change's call for a phased national rollout of Smarter Choices schemes in its First Report of Session 2009-10; further notes Smarter Choices is a low-cost way of cutting carbon emissions; and calls on the Government to announce a phased rollout of Smarter Choices programmes across England.","date":"2010-02-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40359","proposer":"11812","edm":"767","session":"2009-10","title":"Open Spaces","text":"That the draft Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) etc. Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 1 February, be not made.","date":"2010-02-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40319","proposer":"11672","edm":"728","session":"2009-10","title":"Blockades On Continental Ports","text":"That this House recognises the vital role played by the haulage industry in the UK's economy; is concerned that the economic downturn has placed extreme pressure on the haulage industry; is worried at the repeated blockades of European ports used by the UK haulage industry; notes that blockades have a highly detrimental effect on the UK's economy; is anxious that established EU regulations are not being fully enforced; supports the Federation of Small Businesses Stop the Blockades campaign; and calls on the Government to press fellow EU member states such as France to prevent blockades on continental ports by quickly resolving industrial disputes.","date":"2010-01-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40256","proposer":"11923","edm":"667","session":"2009-10","title":"Clearance Of Roads And Pavements","text":"That this House commends the work of community-spirited individuals, public bodies and businesses who ensured that they cleared paths, roads and other public areas of snow and ice during the recent extreme winter conditions; is concerned that there is uncertainty as to whether clearing such spaces might render one responsible for damages should anyone be injured in that space after it had been cleared or partially cleared of snow or ice; is opposed to the where there is a blame there is a claim culture which believes has undermind the traditional community response to winter conditions and has resulted in roads and paths being much more dangerous; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to clarify the situation so that people, businesses and organisations which clear snow and ice are not threatened with potential legal action as a reward for their public-spirited action.","date":"2010-01-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40230","proposer":"11783","edm":"645","session":"2009-10","title":"Richmond And Bushy Parks And Car Parking Charges","text":"That this House notes with concern that the Government's decision to introduce car parking charges into Richmond Park and Bushy Park will reduce use of the parks for exercise and recreation, especially by people on lower incomes; further notes the massive local opposition expressed in petitions to the Royal Parks Agency; further notes that the Government's approach contrasts with the excellent programme of free access to national museums and galleries; recognises that public transport to the gates of the parks is poor and that public transport is non-existent within the parks so that access to much of the acreage is only by car or for the very fit; realises that car parking will be displaced into residential areas outside the gates, leaving residents with no option except expensive and inconvenient controlled parking zones for the weekends and bank holidays; believes that the proposal is largely irrelevant to the environmental objective of reducing the flow of through traffic; and calls on the Government to meet park users to consider other mechanisms for raising funds and to reverse its decision on introducing car parking charges.","date":"2010-01-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40237","proposer":"11823","edm":"652","session":"2009-10","title":"Volunteers In Severe Weather And Land Rover Technology","text":"That this House recognises the contribution made to local communities of individuals who rise to the challenge posed by severe weather conditions and assist those in need; applauds the voluntary efforts of owners of Land Rovers and similarly capable vehicles who provided emergency assistance during the recent snow and ice, getting midwives and other key public sector staff to work, delivering food and medicine to vulnerable people and digging cars out of snow drifts; and pays tribute to the innovative British research, engineering and production teams that have made Land Rover and Range Rover such adaptable and capable vehicles.","date":"2010-01-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40128","proposer":"10336","edm":"520A1","session":"2009-10","title":"Noise From Modified Car Exhaust Systems","text":"after `car', insert `and motorcycle'.","date":"2010-01-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40093","proposer":"11581","edm":"520","session":"2009-10","title":"Noise From Modified Car Exhaust Systems","text":"That this House notes with concern the level of noise that is emitted from modified car exhaust systems; further notes the impact that this anti-social behaviour has on people's daily lives; calls on the Government to consider tightening regulations 54 and 97 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to ensure that exhaust systems remain in good working order and do not make excessive noise; asks that the Government considers banning from sale exhaust attachments that create a noise nuisance; and further calls on the Government to include a noise exhaust monitor as part of the MOT test.","date":"2009-12-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40051","proposer":"10080","edm":"479","session":"2009-10","title":"Safer Journeys To School","text":"That this House congratulates Team ASAP for the research project that they undertook as part of the First Lego League Competition; thanks the team's coaches for their voluntary effort; notes that the team conducted interviews with representatives of the emergency services to identify the causes of accidents involving young people; further notes the team's conclusion that high visibility clothing would cut the number of accidents; and calls on the Departments for Children, Schools and Families and for Transport to review the guidance to schools on uniform and include advice on the incorporation of high visibility materials.","date":"2009-12-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"40058","proposer":"10258","edm":"486","session":"2009-10","title":"Steer Clear Campaign","text":"That this House commends the Steer Clear campaign, which encourages all seasonal revellers either to leave their car at home or to appoint a designated driver; furthermore congratulates the Portsmouth News for promoting the campaign, and the 43 pubs that have already signed up, promising to offer a free soft drink to the designated driver in a group of four or more between 6pm and 9pm; encourages the setting up of these initiatives countrywide; and expresses the hope that schemes of this kind will be successful in reducing the level of drink-driving and drink-related road accidents.","date":"2009-12-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39928","proposer":"11480","edm":"368","session":"2009-10","title":"Severn Bridges Toll Price","text":"That this House is deeply concerned at the impact that the toll on crossing the Severn Bridges has on the economies on both sides of the estuary; notes that the annual increase in the tolls on crossings over the Severn Bridges in line with inflation is usually announced in December of the preceding year; is further deeply concerned at the impact this further price rise on the Severn Bridge toll crossings would have for the accessibility of businesses, commuters and visitors across the estuary; further notes that permission was not granted to increase the Humber Bridge toll during the summer of 2009; and calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to use his powers under the Severn Bridges Act 1992 not to implement the annual inflationary increase in the toll for crossings over the Severn Bridges.","date":"2009-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39818","proposer":"10012","edm":"275","session":"2009-10","title":"Gritting Of Roads In Rossendale","text":"That this House recalls the treacherous conditions last winter on many roads in the Rossendale Valley, particularly those on steep hills; remembers what a stalwart job the then Labour-controlled Lancashire County Council did to ensure that adequate gritting took place and salt and grit bins were provided in those areas where they were needed most; notes how this responsible attitude contrasts starkly with the decision of now Conservative-controlled Lancashire County Council to withdraw these services from the many unadopted roads in Rossendale; considers this will cause undue hardship and inconvenience, not to say risk, especially to the young and the elderly; and calls on the Minister for Local Government to intervene urgently with the council to urge them to reconsider this ill-judged removal of essential services from the people of Rossendale.","date":"2009-11-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39665","proposer":"10295","edm":"128","session":"2009-10","title":"Extension Of The Car Scrappage Scheme","text":"That this House welcomes the Government's announcement to extend the car scrappage scheme to cover an extra 100,000 vehicles; acknowledges recent figures from the Society of Manufacturers and Traders confirming that the scrappage scheme has raised demand and therefore production of cars in the UK; therefore notes that the scheme has contributed to saving potentially tens of thousands of skilled jobs by preventing the closure of any British car plant during the recession to date; and calls on the Government to strengthen the British car industry further by introducing a short-term working subsidy as proven successful through such schemes in operation across Europe.","date":"2009-11-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39564","proposer":"11245","edm":"27","session":"2009-10","title":"Asset Disposal And Dartford Crossing","text":"That this House is concerned about Government plans to sell off the Dartford Crossing; notes that this crossing is an integral part of the M25 ring road; further notes that EU regulations only allow for tolls as a means of preventing congestion, yet the Dartford Crossing tolls actually cause congestion and increased carbon dioxide emissions; is further concerned that in private ownership toll charges are more likely to be increased; and therefore calls on the Government to remove the tolls and make the crossing part of the public highway like other roads, bridges and tunnels.","date":"2009-11-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39642","proposer":"10777","edm":"105","session":"2009-10","title":"Road Traffic (S.i., 2009, No. 2085)","text":"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Workplace Parking Levy (England) Regulations 2009 (S.I., No. 2085), dated 28 July 2009, a copy of which was laid before this House on 31 July, in the previous Session of Parliament, be annulled.","date":"2009-11-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39503","proposer":"10521","edm":"2242","session":"2008-09","title":"World Day Of Remembrance For Road Traffic Victims 2009","text":"That this House welcomes the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims to be held on 15 November 2009; notes this year's theme is From Global Remembrance to Global Action, with the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety occurring a few days later in Moscow; warns that without much greater priority, the World Health Organisation predicts that road crashes will surpass HIV\/AIDS and become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2030; and urges the Government to promote a sustainable transport approach with walking and cycling prioritised, thereby reducing not only road crashes but also helping tackle the twin global crises of obesity and climate change.","date":"2009-11-05","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39397","proposer":"10295","edm":"2152","session":"2008-09","title":"Type Approval Of Replacement Exhaust Systems","text":"That this House notes that the UK has failed to sign EU Directive 92\/97\/EEC which ensures that type approval of replacement exhaust systems are produced and sold as separate technical units; believes that as a consequence of non-type approved replacement products being installed on motor vehicles UK businesses are being placed at a disadvantage and that economic, environmental and public health damage has resulted; and urges the Government to sign EU Directive 92\/97\/EEC to ensure that a level playing field operates across Europe, and that all replacement exhaust systems are type approved.","date":"2009-10-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39378","proposer":"10001","edm":"2144","session":"2008-09","title":"Cyclists' Safety In London","text":"That this House is saddened and alarmed by the tragic deaths of 10 cyclists on London's roads this year; notes that eight of these deaths have involved heavy goods vehicles; further notes Transport for London's decision to shut down the Metropolitan Police Commercial Vehicle Education Unit (CVEU); recognises that the CVEU is the only unit in the country with the power to investigate lorry operators; further notes with concern that 70 per cent. of the lorries checked by CVEU since 2005 were found to be defective in some way; believes the work of the CVEU is desperately needed to improve road safety for cyclists; and calls on the Mayor of London to reinstate the funding for the Commercial Vehicle Education Unit.","date":"2009-10-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39329","proposer":"11651","edm":"2097","session":"2008-09","title":"Pedicabs And Public Safety","text":"That this House notes with concern that pedicabs are inherently dangerous; further notes that there is a high risk of serious injury or death for the rider and passenger in the event of an accident; further notes that many pedicabs have inadequate or no insurance; and calls on the Government to make the touting for public hire of pedicabs illegal.","date":"2009-10-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39269","proposer":"11420","edm":"2039","session":"2008-09","title":"Residents And Disability Parking Schemes","text":"That this House notes the range of parking schemes for different individual circumstances, including residents parking schemes, reserved places for people with disabilities and other parking restrictions; further notes that there remain difficulties who some schemes in preventing people from abusing them; and calls on the Government to review such schemes in order to make them more workable.","date":"2009-10-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39244","proposer":"10304","edm":"2015","session":"2008-09","title":"Visibility Of Heavy Goods Vehicles","text":"That this House very much regrets the Government's decision to postpone making retro-reflective markings mandatory on all newly registered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) until 2011; is dismayed that this announcement was made just 24 days before the measure was due to come into force; is concerned that although HGVs make up just 5.7 per cent. of road traffic, they are involved in 15 per cent. of all fatal road accidents; recalls that a report commissioned by the Department for Transport concluded that fitting retro-reflective markings to the sides and backs of HGVs increases conspicuity and reduces fatalities and that there is a cost-benefit to making this measure mandatory on all newly registered HGVs; questions the Government's statement that the postponement is in view of the economic climate in light of a statement by the Freight Transport Association that the measure would have a relatively slight impact on the industry; notes that this measure would cost approximately 0.001 per cent. of the price of a new vehicle; and calls on the Government to fulfil its commitment to introduce this measure for all newly registered vehicles immediately in order to reduce the disproportionate number of fatal accidents involving HGVs.","date":"2009-10-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39247","proposer":"10142","edm":"2018","session":"2008-09","title":"Closure Of Commercial Vehicle Testing Stations","text":"That this House is concerned that the closure of commercial vehicle testing stations under the Department for Transport's policy of privatising 85 per cent. of commercial vehicle annual tests by 2012 could adversely affect road safety, the environment and the viability of small businesses; and calls on the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to suspend the closure of its testing stations until viable alternative arrangements are in place for all UK operators.","date":"2009-10-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39250","proposer":"11245","edm":"2021","session":"2008-09","title":"Asset Disposal And The Dartford Crossing","text":"That this House is concerned about Government plans to sell off the Dartford Crossing; notes that this crossing is an integral part of the M25 ring road; further notes that EU regulations only allow for tolls as a means of preventing congestion, yet the Dartford Crossing tolls actually cause congestion and increased carbon emissions; is further concerned that in private ownership toll charges are more likely to be increased; and therefore calls on the Government to remove the tolls and make the crossing part of the public highway like other roads, bridges and tunnels.","date":"2009-10-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39148","proposer":"10022","edm":"1923","session":"2008-09","title":"Private Car Clamping","text":"That this House notes that motorists in England have no independent means of appeal against the actions of car clamping companies on private land unlike the proper appeals system in place for local authority parking; further notes that this practice is already outlawed in Scotland as extortion; expresses disappointment that the Home Office consultation, Licensing of wheel clamping businesses, does not include the option of banning car clamping on private land; and urges the Government to follow Scotland's example and ban this practice in England.","date":"2009-07-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39040","proposer":"11420","edm":"1645A1","session":"2008-09","title":"Vauxhall Motors","text":"leave out from `scheme' to `and' in line 12.","date":"2009-07-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"39017","proposer":"11312","edm":"1810","session":"2008-09","title":"Electric Vehicles","text":"That this House welcomes proposals from the Scottish Government to make all Government vehicles electric vehicles by 2020; notes that this demonstrates real commitment and determination to meet the 42 per cent. reduction target enshrined in the Climate Change Act (Scotland) 2009, the most ambitious target in the world; congratulates the Scottish Government; and calls on the UK Government to make a similar pledge.","date":"2009-07-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38885","proposer":"10465","edm":"1694","session":"2008-09","title":"Government Policy On Self-Balancing Personal Transporters","text":"That this House condemns the Government's decision to reject proposals for regulation of self-balancing personal transporters; recognises that the Government has missed an opportunity to further carbon reduction and reduce congestion; further recognises the potential for self-balancing personal transporters to help people with reduced mobility; and calls on the Government to reconsider its position.","date":"2009-06-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38853","proposer":"10295","edm":"1668","session":"2008-09","title":"Fuel Duty","text":"That this House notes with concern the continued rise in fuel prices; further notes that both petrol and diesel prices are at over \u00c2\u00a31 per litre; recognises that the increased cost of petrol and diesel hits those in low and fixed incomes the hardest in addition to having an impact on business; further recognises the reliance many people have on using their vehicles both for business and private use and therefore the huge impact that the proposed two per cent. increase in fuel duty, due to be introduced in September 2009, will have on many people; and calls on the Government to review its policy and abandon the two per cent. rise.","date":"2009-06-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38830","proposer":"10435","edm":"1645","session":"2008-09","title":"Vauxhall Motors","text":"That this House notes that the Vauxhall car plant at Ellesmere Port and the GM van plant at Luton are subject to a change of ownership following the restructuring of General Motors (GM) Europe; further notes that these are two of the most profitable and efficient plants of their type in Europe and that some 5,000 directly employed jobs and 20,000 indirectly employed jobs depend on their continuing in production; recognises that the global recession has seen sales in the car and commercial vehicles sectors fall substantially, but considers the jobs and skills associated with these plants to be essential to the economy and to manufacturing in the UK and that these plants will be vital to meet increased demand as the economy emerges from recession; welcomes the actions taken by Government both within the negotiations and by providing a much-needed scrappage scheme; rejects comments by the hon. Member for Twickenham, who has stated that the Government `cannot afford a bailout, neither is it desirable'; and calls on the Government to continue to assist by facilitating urgent discussions with the new owners of GM Europe to enable local management and trade union representatives to demonstrate the strength of the UK plants as well as to make available financial support where appropriate to support jobs, skills and continued production in these high quality and vital UK plants and the wider supply chain.","date":"2009-06-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38771","proposer":"10057","edm":"1593","session":"2008-09","title":"Un Decade Of Action For Global Road Safety","text":"That this House welcomes the proposal of the Commission for Global Road Safety, chaired by Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, for a United Nations Decade of Action for Global Road Safety with a global target to reduce the forecast 2020 level of road deaths by 50 per cent., potentially saving five million lives and avoiding 50 million serious injuries; strongly urges the Government to support the proposed decade of action during the forthcoming debate in the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly and to play a leading role in the first UN global Ministerial Meeting on Road Safety to be held in Moscow on 19-20 November 2009; recognises that road injury prevention has been a neglected issue of sustainable development and notes with concern that road crashes kill more than 1.3 million people every year mainly in low and middle income countries; calls on the Department for International Development actively to support the work of the World Bank's global Road Safety Facility and, in particular, to encourage all multilateral and bilateral donors to include in all road construction and rehabilitation projects they finance, a budget allocation dedicated to safety rating, assessment and infrastructure improvement; and encourages all UN Member States to take concerted action to make roads safe by promoting seat belt and helmet use, discouraging drink driving and inappropriate speed, encouraging further investment in safer motor vehicles and roads, and prioritising the protection of vulnerable road users.","date":"2009-06-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38649","proposer":"10103","edm":"1478","session":"2008-09","title":"2009 Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey","text":"That this House is appalled at the waste and neglect revealed in the findings of the 2009 Annual Local Authority Road Maintainance Survey; is concerned that the number of potholes on England's local roads has increased by a third in one year, that there is now a 13 year backlog of maintenance work and that the annual cost of compensating victims of pothole related incidents now exceeds \u00c2\u00a353 million; and calls on the Government to come forward urgently with an action plan to restore road and pavement surfaces to a standard that is safe for users.","date":"2009-05-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38621","proposer":"14137","edm":"1438A1","session":"2008-09","title":"Vehicle Number Plate Flags (No. 2)","text":"leave out `emblem' and insert `emblems'.","date":"2009-05-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38601","proposer":"11245","edm":"1437","session":"2008-09","title":"Speed Cameras","text":"That this House notes that the removal of the right for local police forces and local authorities to retain speed camera fines was followed by a significant reduction in the number of speed cameras; further notes that road fatalities fell to their lowest level at the same time; and calls on the Government to ensure that speed cameras are used at accident black spots and that speed signage is improved to help motorists keep within the law.","date":"2009-05-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38602","proposer":"11245","edm":"1438","session":"2008-09","title":"Vehicle Number Plate Flags (No. 2)","text":"That this House congratulates the Government on its revision of the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 to permit the voluntary display of national flags from 27 April 2009; and welcomes this revision which will allow British citizens proudly to display their national emblem.","date":"2009-05-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38569","proposer":"10076","edm":"1408","session":"2008-09","title":"Ldv","text":"That this House is deeply worried by the announcement that the Birmingham based van-maker LDV has applied to go into administration; notes that over 800 jobs are under threat at LDV and thousands more amongst dealerships and the wider supply chain; recognises that these are skilled, relatively well-paid jobs in one of Britain's manufacturing heartlands; further recognises the assistance the Government has already provided, including the deferment of tax payments; and calls on the Government to do everything it can, proactively as well as reactively, to help secure a viable future for this key strategic manufacturer including the production of a new generation of electric vans.","date":"2009-04-30","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38492","proposer":"13735","edm":"1274A1","session":"2008-09","title":"Scrappage Incentive Scheme","text":"leave out `urgently introduce' and insert `initiate an urgent study to evaluate the comparative carbon balance of a scrappage scheme before introducing'.","date":"2009-04-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38465","proposer":"10614","edm":"1314","session":"2008-09","title":"Speed Limit And Road Safety","text":"That this House welcomes proposals that would result in speed limits being reduced in areas where there is a high risk of accidents, in particular the recommendation that there be a 20 mph speed limit around schools and in residential areas; notes that between 2005 and 2007, 2,376 people were killed and 14,577 were seriously injured in road accidents where excessive speed was recorded as a contributory factor and that on average eight people die on the road every day; recognises the need for roads to be made safer; and calls for these recommendations to be implemented as soon as possible throughout the country.","date":"2009-04-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38376","proposer":"10022","edm":"1252","session":"2008-09","title":"Satellite Navigation Devices","text":"That this House is extremely concerned that satellite navigation devices (sat navs) continue to direct large vehicles down narrow and unsuitable routes; notes with regret that this has a serious impact upon other road users and many communities; and calls on the Government to eradicate this problem by ensuring that sat navs take account of the height, width and length of the vehicle before selecting a route.","date":"2009-04-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38378","proposer":"11783","edm":"1254","session":"2008-09","title":"Proposals For Car Parking Charges In Richmond Park","text":"That this House is concerned that the Royal Parks are consulting on a change to park regulations which would result in car parking charges in Richmond Park; notes that such charges would give an incentive to Richmond Park visitors to park outside the gates on residential streets and force local residents to apply for costly and otherwise unnecessary controlled parking zones; asserts that encouraging use of the park is desirable for leisure and health; calculates that parking charges could cost regular users of the park in excess of \u00c2\u00a3400 a year; recognises that access to most areas of the park is only possible by car for any but the fittest users since no public transport goes through or stops in Richmond Park; and calls on the Royal Parks to withdraw these charging proposals.","date":"2009-04-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38398","proposer":"10295","edm":"1274","session":"2008-09","title":"Scrappage Incentive Scheme","text":"That this House calls on the Government to introduce a scrappage incentive scheme; notes that such a scheme, as supported by Unite and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, would incentivise owners of cars and vans over nine years old to scrap their vehicle in exchange for \u00c2\u00a32,000 towards a new or nearly-new car or van; recognises the success of similar schemes introduced in other European countries, particularly in Germany, which has boosted the new car market, increasing registrations by 21.5 per cent. in February 2009, giving the first year-on-year monthly rise since July 2008; believes that the potential increased value added tax revenue to Government would largely offset the cost of the scheme; further believes that this measure would be popular with the public, with 76 per cent. of consumers being in favour of its introduction; and calls on the Government to urgently introduce a scrappage scheme to give a much needed boost to the new vehicle market and automotive sector in the UK and, importantly, the 800,000 people that work in it.","date":"2009-04-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38399","proposer":"11026","edm":"1234A1","session":"2008-09","title":"Speeding Near Schools","text":"at end add `which is enforced only immediately before, immediately after and during times when the school is in use.'.","date":"2009-04-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38356","proposer":"10614","edm":"1234","session":"2008-09","title":"Speeding Near Schools","text":"That this House has serious concerns about the speeding of motorists, particularly in close proximity to schools; notes that between 2005 and 2007, the latest period for which figures are available, police officers attended 14,577 accidents in which someone was seriously injured and speeding was listed as a contributory factor; is alarmed that in 2007 speeding contributed to 727 deaths; welcomes the fact that the Government was forecast to spend \u00c2\u00a31,815,000 on television advertising to make people aware of the dangers and consequences of driving in excess of the speed limit in 2008-09; and calls on the Government to implement 20 mph speed limits in areas surrounding schools.","date":"2009-03-31","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38243","proposer":"10190","edm":"1131","session":"2008-09","title":"Fuel Duty Increase","text":"That this House notes that a record number of Britons signed up for jobless benefits last month and that two million Britons are now unemployed; regrets that 85 small and medium-sized enterprises are closing every day; recognises the importance of cars to small businesses especially in rural areas such as the Ribble Valley; understands that the public transport network is poor in rural areas and as such families rely on their cars; fully appreciates that this is a time of economic hardship for all families in the UK; fully supports the Automobile Association in its call to have fuel duty frozen to support drivers during the recession; and calls on the Government to abandon its plans for a two pence increase in fuel duty in April 2009.","date":"2009-03-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38086","proposer":"10491","edm":"994","session":"2008-09","title":"Jobs And Businesses In The UK Logistics Sector","text":"That this House supports the goals of the Every Penny Counts campaign which is supporting jobs and businesses in the road freight sector; notes that the success of the British economy is dependent on the success of its logistics sector, which directly employs some 2.3 million people and indirectly supports the work of many millions of others; recognises that the current economic downturn has had a severe and highly damaging impact on the logistics sector, causing insolvencies in the sector to double from fourth quarter 2007 to fourth quarter 2008; notes with concern that increases in costs to the logistics sector's operations, such as increases to fuel duty and road vehicle testing charges are specifically targeting UK logistics companies that are struggling to stay afloat; and calls on policymakers to give greater priority to the impact of economic measures on the freight sector before more companies are forced out of business and more jobs are lost.","date":"2009-03-05","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"38049","proposer":"10133","edm":"910A1","session":"2008-09","title":"Congestion Charge Payment Machines","text":"leave out from `Estate;' to end and add `and requests the Mayor of London to require Capita to retain sufficient pre-payment machines all over London.'.","date":"2009-03-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37989","proposer":"10521","edm":"910","session":"2008-09","title":"Congestion Charge Payment Machines","text":"That this House deplores the announcement by Capita that it is to remove the congestion charge payment machine from the House of Commons on 3 April, and all other congestion charge payment machines of this type across London; calls on the House authorities to prevail upon Capita to retain this facility on the Parliamentary Estate; and urges the Secretary of State for Transport to make urgent representations to Capita not to remove similar machines elsewhere in the capital.","date":"2009-02-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37896","proposer":"11245","edm":"821","session":"2008-09","title":"Vehicle Number Plate Flags","text":"That this House welcomes the Government's intention to legalise the display of national flags on number plates; notes that it is expected that the revised regulations will come into force around the end of April 2009; and calls on the Government to bring the new regulations into force on St George's Day, 23 April 2009.","date":"2009-02-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37787","proposer":"11036","edm":"732","session":"2008-09","title":"Roads In Somerset","text":"That this House notes that in early February 2009 Somerset experienced its heaviest snowfalls for 27 years; congratulates the staff of Somerset County Council Highways Department and its contractors WS Atkins, on their efforts to keep open as much of the road network in Somerset as viable; further notes that from 1 February 2009 to 9 February 2009 around 3,500 tonnes of salt were used in Somerset to treat and re-treat some 40,000 kilometres of roads, which is the approximate circumference of the earth; welcomes Somerset County Council's recent \u00c2\u00a31 million investment in new winter service equipment; and thanks all the staff in Somerset and across the United Kingdom who have worked hard and in difficult conditions to keep roads and footpaths safe.","date":"2009-02-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37788","proposer":"10224","edm":"733","session":"2008-09","title":"Regulation Of Car Clamping","text":"That this House urges the Government to take action to regulate the activities of car clamping companies such as Citywatch; notes that Citywatch has clamped motorists parking on garage forecourts in Walthamstow for a few moments to use the garage shop or obtain a car wash token from the shop and then have charged \u00c2\u00a3465 to remove the clamp; believes that this level of charge is totally disproportionate to any offence which may have been committed; notes that this type of conduct is becoming common among companies operating to clamp cars parked on private land; and calls on the Government to introduce regulations to control the activities of such companies and to limit the charges which they can apply for the removal of clamps and the storage of vehicles which have been removed.","date":"2009-02-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37765","proposer":"11345","edm":"711","session":"2008-09","title":"Severe Weather Preparedness","text":"That this House notes the public concern regarding the recent severe weather; further notes that their concern was reflected by eight hon. Members' questions to the Leader of the House on this issue on 4 February; and, considering the impact the severe weather had on business and individuals, calls upon the Government to review the preparedness of Government, local authorities and the transport industry to deal with such events.","date":"2009-02-05","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37713","proposer":"10521","edm":"662","session":"2008-09","title":"Grievous Bodily Harm Charge Against Dangerous Driver","text":"That this House welcomes the decision of Essex Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to bring an additional charge of grievous bodily harm against a driver involved in a serious road crash near Stansted Airport, Essex, which resulted in a young woman being paralysed for life; congratulates the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court for its unanimous verdict of convicting the driver of the offence in addition to his admission of dangerous driving, the first time this has featured in the judicial system; and urges other police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service to charge drivers with grievous bodily harm when the enormity of the incident means that the charge of dangerous driving is not adequate.","date":"2009-02-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37705","proposer":"10465","edm":"655","session":"2008-09","title":"Segways And The Snow","text":"That this House notes that, unlike Vienna's transport system, London's public and private transport system can be brought to a virtual standstill by about eight inches of frozen water; further notes that the Segway personal transporter is legal in Vienna; believes that more people would have got to work in the snow if Segways were widely used for commuting in the UK; and calls on the Government to legalise Segways before the East Wind blows again.","date":"2009-02-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37654","proposer":"13735","edm":"608","session":"2008-09","title":"Nationalisation Of The Public Utilities And Transport Services","text":"That this House believes it is in the national interest to bring back into public ownership the energy and water utilities, and the rail and bus companies; further believes that public investment should be directed into successful service sectors, the profits from which should be invested in manufacturing sectors; and believes the Government needs to introduce more radical, progressive economic measures to benefit the majority of the people in the country.","date":"2009-01-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37599","proposer":"10304","edm":"565","session":"2008-09","title":"Retro-Reflective Markings On Heavy Goods Vehicles","text":"That this House is concerned that the most recent road accident statistics show that in 2007 the number of fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) increased despite a drop in the overall number of accidents; notes that although HGVs make up just 5.7 per cent. of road traffic, they are involved in 15 per cent. of all fatal road accidents; recalls that a report commissioned by the Department for Transport concluded that fitting retro-reflective markings to the sides and back of HGVs increases conspicuity and reduces fatalities and that there is a cost-benefit to making this measure mandatory on all newly registered HGVs; understands the financial pressures currently facing the haulage industry, but notes that this measure would cost approximately 0.001 per cent. of the price of a new vehicle; is dismayed that despite an undertaking to introduce such a measure for all newly registered HGVs by 10 October 2009, under the draft statutory instrument published by the Department for Transport, only around five per cent. of newly registered vehicles will be required to have conspicuity markings; and calls on the Government to ensure that all newly registered vehicles and their trailers are fitted with conspicuity markings from that date, and to use the annual HGV test to enforce this measure.","date":"2009-01-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37551","proposer":"11707","edm":"386A1","session":"2008-09","title":"Overseas Heavy Goods Vehicles","text":"leave out from `and' to end and add `and calls on the Government to introduce a national lorry road user charging scheme to provide a stream of investment to the UK's public transport infrastructure.'.","date":"2009-01-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37520","proposer":"10043","edm":"496","session":"2008-09","title":"Shared Surfaces And Disabled People","text":"That this House supports the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs) and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee in calling for a moratorium on new shared surface schemes in our towns and cities until the Department for Transport has published the results of its forthcoming research; recognises that in these schemes it is not possible for certain groups of vulnerable road users to use such areas independently because they cannot tell where the pavement ends and the road begins; and welcomes the research that Guide Dogs has already carried out to highlight the issue and to try to find an effective solution.","date":"2009-01-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37521","proposer":"14137","edm":"497","session":"2008-09","title":"Festive Road Safety Campaign 2008","text":"That this House welcomes figures confirming that in Scotland almost 200 fewer motorists were arrested for drink and drug-driving offences over the festive season compared to 2007; and hails the efforts of the Scottish Government, Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and all eight police forces that led a successful Scotland-wide Festive Road Safety Campaign for 2008.","date":"2009-01-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37509","proposer":"10057","edm":"486","session":"2008-09","title":"Tax Relief On Public Transport For Employees","text":"That this House calls on the Government to consider offering tax relief at the standard rate of tax on expenses incurred in the use of public transport by employees in travelling to and from their place of employment, so as to offer equality with those who are self-employed and to encourage the use of public transport; and further calls on the Government in cases where employers reimburse such public transport costs to treat such payments as non-taxable benefits.","date":"2009-01-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37399","proposer":"10295","edm":"383","session":"2008-09","title":"Hybrid Car Manufacturing In The UK","text":"That this House encourages the Government to take heed of the ecological and economic aims behind the Australian government's deal with Toyota to build fuel-efficient hybrid cars; presses the Government to pursue similar objectives to develop a UK-manufactured hybrid car; and calls on the Government to follow Australia's example in negotiating with Japanese and other car manufacturers, to consistently aim to create more opportunities for the UK car industry, particularly in the current ecomomic climate, and in turn to further active concern for the environment.","date":"2009-01-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37402","proposer":"10295","edm":"386","session":"2008-09","title":"Overseas Heavy Goods Vehicles","text":"That this House notes that one in seven of the heaviest lorries on UK roads now comes from overseas; recognises that these vehicles contribute nothing towards the costs they impose in terms of road wear and air quality, which in turn gives them an unfair competitive advantage over UK hauliers, who face higher duties; and calls on the Government to introduce a vignette, or Brit disc, which will act as a daily charge levied on non-national vehicles operating in another EU state.","date":"2009-01-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37345","proposer":"10465","edm":"334","session":"2008-09","title":"Self-Balancing Personal Transporters","text":"That this House requests that the Government confer on self-balancing personal transporters, such as the Segway PT, the same status as that of an elecrically-assisted bicycle.","date":"2008-12-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37346","proposer":"10465","edm":"335","session":"2008-09","title":"Police Trials Of Self-Balancing Personal Transporters","text":"That this House notes 750 police forces globally already use self-balancing personal transporters to enhance the effectiveness of their foot patrols; and supports those police forces in the United Kingdom who wish to conduct trials of self-balancing personal transporters.","date":"2008-12-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37356","proposer":"11707","edm":"345","session":"2008-09","title":"Transport Innovation Fund Funding For Greater Manchester","text":"That this House recognises the resounding rejection of the proposed Manchester Congestion Charge scheme in the Greater Manchester referendum; recognises that Greater Manchester requires massive investment in public transport to promote growth in the local economy; notes that \u00c2\u00a31.5 billion was to be made available to Greater Manchester through the Transport Innovation Fund in the event of a yes vote; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that Greater Manchester is not short-changed as a result of the no vote so that public transport improvements including across the whole of Greater Manchester, Metrolink extensions, can proceed.","date":"2008-12-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37337","proposer":"10248","edm":"328","session":"2008-09","title":"Public Transport Over Christmas Holidays","text":"That this House expresses its deep disappointment that once again during this festive season the United Kingdom's railways will undergo a 58-hour shutdown with no services whatsoever being provided on the overwhelming majority of lines; notes that this is in stark contrast to the situation that prevails in the rest of Europe where regular services run throughout the Christmas holidays; further notes that in many areas there will be no buses running over a similar period; applauds the efforts of Merseytravel, the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authorities and Transport for London to run a decent level of bus services on Boxing Day and calls on other areas to follow suit; further notes that the closure of the rail and bus networks leaves many people without access to transport to visit family or friends or attend sporting events; and calls on the Department for Transport, the Passenger Transport Authorities, the Association of Train Operating Companies and Network Rail to work together to ensure that from 2009 an adequate rail and bus service is provided on Boxing Day.","date":"2008-12-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37234","proposer":"10295","edm":"236","session":"2008-09","title":"Car Tax","text":"That this House calls on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to provide people with incentives to buy and renew their car tax at local post office branches; notes that the DVLA currently encourages people to renew their car tax on-line by entering individuals into a competition to win a free SEAT car; expresses its concern that the DVLA is not promoting British manufacturing by providing a free British-built car and that the prize is only offered to those who have internet access; and further calls on the DVLA to broaden its incentive to include those who use the Post Office in order to support the network while giving people greater flexibility to renew their car tax.","date":"2008-12-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37159","proposer":"10614","edm":"167","session":"2008-09","title":"Leicestershire Christmas Drink-Drive Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the Christmas drink-and-drug-drive campaign launched by the police in Leicestershire; appreciates the use of initiatives such as extensive media messages and increased field impairment tests; notes that similar initiatives as part of the Christmas THINK campaign are being undertaken by police forces across the UK throughout the Christmas holidays; further notes that 460 people across the country died due to consequences of drunk driving in the last year; recognises that the Christmas period sees a rise in drink-drive incidents and that 27 accidents occurred over Christmas holidays in Leicestershire in 2007; and believes widespread awareness and stringent monitoring is required to prevent accidents during the festive season.","date":"2008-12-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37116","proposer":"10258","edm":"124","session":"2008-09","title":"Steer Clear Campaign","text":"That this House commends the Steer Clear campaign, which encourages all seasonal revellers either to leave their car at home or to appoint a designated driver; congratulates the Portsmouth News for promoting the campaign, and the 40 pubs which have already signed up, promising to offer a soft drink to the designated driver in a group of three or more; encourages the setting up of these initiatives countrywide; and expresses the hope that schemes of this kind will be successful in reducing the level of drink-driving and drink-related road accidents.","date":"2008-12-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37118","proposer":"10258","edm":"126","session":"2008-09","title":"Local Authorities And Micro-Chipped Animals","text":"That this House calls for local authorities to introduce routine scanning of domestic animals including cats and dogs killed on roads; recognises the upset caused to families, particularly those with children when a pet goes missing; and seeks to ensure that micro-chipped pets are reported to their owners.","date":"2008-12-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37012","proposer":"11420","edm":"20","session":"2008-09","title":"Parking Outside Residential Property","text":"That this House notes that there are considerable disputes about parking in areas of high housing density; and calls upon the Government to review what statutory procedures should exist to facilitate the resolution of these disputes and the ability of people to park close to their property.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37013","proposer":"11420","edm":"21","session":"2008-09","title":"Excessive Speed Warnings Before Speed Cameras","text":"That this House notes that speeding is a strict liability offence where intention to speed does not have to be proven; believes that it would be fairer to warn speeding drivers that their speed is excessive before they pass a speed camera; and calls for the Government to review using such warning technology associated with cameras which would have the effect of reducing the speed of traffic.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"37018","proposer":"11245","edm":"26","session":"2008-09","title":"Dartford Crossing Toll Increase","text":"That this House is concerned that the Government failed to keep the promise that the Dartford Crossing tolls would end when the crossing costs were met in full, which happened in 2003, and that continued failure to meet promises brings political parties into disrepute; notes the public outcry at the Government for recently increasing the toll by 50 per cent.; further notes that the free tolls and toll discounts for Thurrock and Dartford residents discriminate against other local residents, some of whom live nearer to the crossing; believes that this toll is simply another dishonest stealth tax and has nothing to do with traffic management, and that collecting the tolls causes delays, damage to the environment and increased charges to road users; and calls on the Government and Opposition parties to undertake to remove the tolls completely, immediately following the next election.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36943","proposer":"11245","edm":"2526","session":"2007-08","title":"Dartford Crossing Toll Increase","text":"That this House is concerned that the Government failed to keep the promise that the Dartford Crossing tolls would end when the crossing costs were met in full, which happened in 2003, and that continued failure to meet promises brings political parties into disrepute; notes the public outcry at the Government for increasing the toll by 50 per cent. to \u00c2\u00a31.50 this week; further notes that the free tolls and toll discounts for Thurrock and Dartford residents discriminates against other local residents, some of whom live nearer to the crossing; believes that this toll is simply another dishonest stealth tax and has nothing to do with traffic management, and that collecting the tolls causes delays, damage to the environment and increased danger to road users; and calls on the Government and opposition parties to undertake to remove the tolls completely, immediately following the next election.","date":"2008-11-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36949","proposer":"11093","edm":"2532","session":"2007-08","title":"Wheel Clamping And Parking Control Firms","text":"That this House notes that some wheel clamping and parking control firms use strongarm tactics to take money from motorists; notes that these tactics include representatives of such firms presenting themselves as solicitors and debt collectors and does not think that these practises are fair or appropriate; further notes that car registration information is provided to these firms by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA); calls on the DVLA to maintain a list of approved firms who can have access to car registration information; and further calls on the DVLA to strike off firms who use these strongarm tactics.","date":"2008-11-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36954","proposer":"11489","edm":"2537","session":"2007-08","title":"Motorcycle Testing Centres","text":"That this House believes that the ability to arrange a motorcycle test at a convenient and accessible location is essential to the development of safe riding; notes that the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is developing new off-road multi-purpose test centres to comply with European Union legislation; expresses concern that despite the DSA's statement that no learner should be further than 20 miles or 45 minutes from a Multi-Purpose Test Centre that there will be no facilities in Mid Wales, and the residents of Ceredigion will be forced to travel to Haverfordwest or Shrewsbury which for many means further than the stated minimum; further expresses concern that inexperienced learner riders will be expected to travel long distances, potentially in poor weather conditions; and calls on the Government to ensure that safe and convenient testing is available to all learner riders.","date":"2008-11-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36958","proposer":"10295","edm":"2541","session":"2007-08","title":"Car Tax","text":"That this House calls on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to provide people with incentives to buy and renew their car tax at local post office branches; notes that the DVLA currently encourages people to renew their car tax online by entering individuals into a competition to win a free SEAT car; expresses its concern that the DVLA is not promoting British manufacturing by providing a free British-built car and that the prize is only offered to those who have internet access; and further calls on the DVLA to broaden its incentive to include those who use the Post Office in order to support the network while giving people greater flexibility to renew their car tax.","date":"2008-11-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36855","proposer":"11771","edm":"2451","session":"2007-08","title":"Heathrow Airport Expansion Air Pollution And M4 Area Congestion Charging","text":"That this House is concerned about the impact of possible Department of Transport-imposed congestion charging proposals for tackling air pollution caused by Heathrow airport expansion, including an M4 area \u00c2\u00a33 congestion charge for HGVs, and further additional charges on motorists; believes any such proposal would be unaffordable for hard-pressed communities and the local economy, hitting residents, commuters, the freight industry, and jobs and businesses located in west and south west London and the M4 corridor, already struggling with the economic downturn; expresses concern that this congestion charging detail was buried in a technical document issued alongside the main Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport public consultation document and therefore is unlikely to have been sufficiently considered by respondents; and calls on the Government explicitly to rule out any such congestion charging as a means of meeting environmental limits for expanding Heathrow Airport.","date":"2008-11-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36861","proposer":"10062","edm":"2457","session":"2007-08","title":"Clean Air Now Organisation","text":"That this House is concerned that the organisation Clean Air Now paid for an advertisement in the Independent newspaper on 20th October 2008 which criticised one of Greater Manchester's oldest and largest employers, Kellogg, for its opposition to the proposed Manchester congestion charge; understands that Clean Air Now receives funding from a number of public bodies, including Manchester is my Planet, Manchester Arts Festival and Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations; notes that these bodies are funded directly by a number of public sources, including the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities the Greater Manchester Public Transport Executive and Authority and Manchester City Council; is further concerned that acting in this way constitutes an inappropriate use of public funds; and urges public bodies to take greater care with public funds particularly in the run-up to the forthcoming referendum on the proposed Manchester congestion charge.","date":"2008-11-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36817","proposer":"10338","edm":"2423","session":"2007-08","title":"Young Drivers, Road Safety And Young Marmalade","text":"That this House congratulates Young Marmalade, a member of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, for its pioneering safer car and insurance scheme and notes that new drivers that take up the scheme are three times less likely to be involved in a crash; and furthermore is pleased to learn that Young Marmalade is linking up with the Road Safety Unit at Staffordshire County Council to support and invest in additional training for new drivers in the county.","date":"2008-11-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36742","proposer":"10190","edm":"2361","session":"2007-08","title":"Road Accident Fraud","text":"That this House deplores road accident fraud; understands that gangs have made huge amounts of money in insurance payments by braking suddenly and forcing other drivers to hit their cars; notes that these fraudsters cut their brake lights so fellow motorists have no warning; further notes that such action has recently been prevalent in Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester; further notes that the average insurance claim is \u00c2\u00a320,000 per incident; is concerned that in the past decade fraudulent insurance investigators have exposed over 25,000 false or staged accidents; and calls on the Government to act with the police and insurance companies to ensure that innocent drivers, insurance companies and honest policy holders do not become the victims of road accident fraud.","date":"2008-10-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36755","proposer":"10586","edm":"2348A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Regulation Of Car Clamping Companies","text":"after `operators' insert `, in particular to make the Security Industry Authority code mandatory,'.","date":"2008-10-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36728","proposer":"11869","edm":"2348","session":"2007-08","title":"Regulation Of Car Clamping Companies","text":"That this House urges the Government to better regulate car clamping companies; deplores the extortionate level of charges levied which are often \u00c2\u00a3125 or more for removing a clamp; further deplores the erroneous additional charges, including paying to return a car which has been impounded; is concerned that vulnerable individuals can be made to feel extremely intimidated by physically imposing clampers; recognises that it is legitimate to enforce parking restrictions but believes this process should not be disproportionate to the scale of the offence; and calls on the Department for Transport to introduce more rigorous rules which deter rogue clampers, strengthen codes of conduct for operators and give greater redress to people whose cars have been clamped.","date":"2008-10-27","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36593","proposer":"10022","edm":"2243","session":"2007-08","title":"Mandatory Consultation By Traffic Commissioners","text":"That this House notes with concern that, whereas local planning authorities are required to consult those who may be directly affected by a planning application, and in particular those in neighbouring properties, no such requirements are placed on the Traffic Commissioners in respect of goods vehicle operator licence applications which may equally affect those in neighbouring properties; and therefore calls upon the Secretary of State for Transport to introduce proposals to change the Commissioner's responsibilities in this regard and to require mandatory consultation of those affected, in line with that which applies in planning legislation.","date":"2008-10-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36554","proposer":"11489","edm":"2204","session":"2007-08","title":"Motorcycle Action Group","text":"That this House welcomes the work undertaken by the Motorcycle Action Group in promoting the safe and responsible use of motorcycles; notes with concern that 60 per cent. of motorcycle deaths take place on rural roads, 80 per cent. of which are as a result of recreational use; recognises that Ceredigion possesses some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, and so attracts a large number of motorcyclists; acknowledges the importance of schemes such as Bike Safe in targeting problem roads and providing education; and commends Motorcycle Action Group in its excellent work to reduce motorcycle deaths in the UK.","date":"2008-10-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36555","proposer":"10428","edm":"2205","session":"2007-08","title":"Agency Healthcare Workers","text":"That this House is aware of the many agency healthcare workers who regularly drive to their patients' homes within communities; acknowledges that their jobs include such tasks as moving patients, handling them with hoists and other equipment, dealing with many varied physical disabilities including incontinence, Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illnesses and care of the dying; is aware that to carry this out they have to undergo educational training in social care and practice, emergency procedures, fire, health and safety, basic food hygiene, dementia care, diabetes, abuse awareness, palliative care and have to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check with their employers; is concerned that such medical carers are required to pay for a CRB check each time they change their job within the industry, rather than on an annual basis and have also to register with two separate bodies at a joint cost of \u00c2\u00a364 before being allowed to work in this sector; and believes that such over-charging practices should cease immediately and that ways should be found by the Government to charge lower annual road tax rates to this group of professionals whose work is imperative to the health and lifestyles of the people they serve.","date":"2008-10-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36556","proposer":"10295","edm":"2207","session":"2007-08","title":"Vehicle Excise Duty (No. 2)","text":"That this House notes the new rates of vehicle excise duty announced by Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer in his 2008 Budget Statement; recognises that the new rates are designed to reflect the level of carbon dioxide emitted from each vehicle; further notes that the new charges are to be retrospective on vehicles registered since 1st March 2001; recognises that in the current economic downturn many individuals and families are struggling to pay rising energy bills and other household expenses; and calls on Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer to review the retrospective element of vehicle excise duty and only to apply the new system of charging to vehicles purchased since 1st March 2009,therefore providing some relief for hard-working families while allowing people to make an informed choice about the vehicle they purchase in the future.","date":"2008-10-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36454","proposer":"11817","edm":"2107","session":"2007-08","title":"Highways Agency And Ragwort Near Shrewsbury","text":"That this House notes the duty of the Highways Agency to effectively remove ragwort from the side of roads under its care; further notes that ragwort is poisonous to horses and spreads quickly if not checked; further notes that around Shrewsbury the Highways Agency is not fulfilling its responsibility to remove ragwort, leading to a huge spread of this dangerous weed; and urges the Highways Agency to urgently sort out this problem during August.","date":"2008-07-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36462","proposer":"10383","edm":"2115","session":"2007-08","title":"Vehicle And Operators Service Agency","text":"That this House welcomes the Government's decision to keep the functions of the Vehicle and Operators Services Agency within the public sector; recognises the valuable contribution made by the staff of the Agency towards the achievement of the Government's targets for improvements in road safety; notes that the impartiality and professionalism of the Agency's staff is widely valued and respected by road hauliers and public service vehicle operators alike and that the task of ensuring the roadworthiness of all vehicles on British roads is extremely important; and is confident that with sufficient resources and with proper leadership and support the current staff of the Agency are more than capable of rising to the challenge now that the uncertainty that has surrounded the future of the Agency is finally resolved.","date":"2008-07-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36428","proposer":"11032","edm":"2081","session":"2007-08","title":"Fuel Allowance For Nhs Volunteer Drivers","text":"That this House recognises the vitally important work that many thousands of volunteer drivers undertake in taking patients to and from hospitals, GP surgeries and day centres; notes that the increasing cost of fuel is putting many of these services at risk as the fuel allowance for volunteer drivers remains at 40 pence per mile whilst the cost of fuel has escalated; further notes that nurses and staff in the NHS have recently been given an increase in their fuel allowance; is concerned about the impact on local health services if volunteer drivers can no longer afford to help their communities; believes that primary care trusts and other trusts should compensate volunteer drivers for their increased fuel costs and bring increases in line with those granted to NHS staff; and calls on the Government to allow all increases for NHS staff and volunteers to be tax free to reflect the rising cost of fuel.","date":"2008-07-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36347","proposer":"11026","edm":"1983A3","session":"2007-08","title":"Mayor Of London, Climate Change And The Proposed \u00c2\u00a325 Congestion Charge","text":"Leave out `is concerned","date":"2008-07-09","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36348","proposer":"11026","edm":"1983A4","session":"2007-08","title":"Mayor Of London, Climate Change And The Proposed \u00c2\u00a325 Congestion Charge","text":"Leave out `charge'","date":"2008-07-09","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36360","proposer":"11026","edm":"1983A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Mayor Of London, Climate Change And The Proposed \u00c2\u00a325 Congestion Charge","text":"leave out `is concerned at the news' and insert `notes that'.","date":"2008-07-09","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36361","proposer":"11026","edm":"1983A2","session":"2007-08","title":"Mayor Of London, Climate Change And The Proposed \u00c2\u00a325 Congestion Charge","text":"leave out from `charge' to end and add `congratulates him on so speedily honouring this manifesto promise upon which he was democratically elected.'.","date":"2008-07-09","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36315","proposer":"10001","edm":"1983","session":"2007-08","title":"Mayor Of London, Climate Change And The Proposed \u00c2\u00a325 Congestion Charge","text":"That this House is concerned at the news that Mayor of London Boris Johnson is to drop plans to introduce a \u00c2\u00a325 carbon dioxide charge on the most polluting vehicles entering central London; notes that the plans were introduced in an attempt to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the capital; further notes that the plans would have made huge progress in encouraging people to use public transport in London; recognises that if climate change is ever to be successfully tackled considerable changes like the congestion charges must be brought in; further recognises that dealing with the fuel crisis means people should be encouraged to drive smaller cars and use less fuel; believes it is unfair that by scrapping the plans the taxpayer must finance \u00c2\u00a3400,000 in a legal payout to Porsche; and calls on the Mayor seriously to reconsider his decision bearing in mind the necessity of fighting climate change, the importance of encouraging the use of public transport and the unfairness of asking taxpayers to foot a \u00c2\u00a3400,000 legal bill.","date":"2008-07-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36261","proposer":"10331","edm":"1938","session":"2007-08","title":"Herefordshire Wheels2work","text":"That this House notes and applauds the Herefordshire Wheels2Work scheme, operating under Herefordshire Voluntary Action, which aims to support people who are disadvantaged in the labour market by their inability to access public or private transport to employment or training opportunities; acknowledges that the work of the project substantially supports the activities of Jobcentre Plus, Connexions and the Learning and Skills Council; and fully supports the group in its bid for future funding options.","date":"2008-07-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36246","proposer":"11245","edm":"1924","session":"2007-08","title":"Increase In Fuel Duty","text":"That this House, mindful of the rise in oil prices, urges the Government to scrap the two pence tax increase on a litre of fuel planned for October.","date":"2008-07-01","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36153","proposer":"10076","edm":"1844","session":"2007-08","title":"JAGUAR'S AWARD FOR BRITAIN'S GREENEST LUXURY CAR","text":"That this House congratulates Jaguar on receiving the award for Britain's greenest luxury car in the Environmental Transport Association's 2008 Car Buyers Guide in respect of the XJ 2.7 Diesel; notes that the model in question, built at the firm's Castle Bromwich plant in Erdington, is capable of achieving 1000.2 miles on a single tank of fuel, the average fuel consumption hitting 53.5mpg; recognises Jaguar Land Rover's commitment to delivering carbon dioxide and fuel consumption reductions to customers through development of industry-leading diesel engines and application of advanced lightweight aluminium vehicle architectures; and calls on the Government to take full account of the environmental advances and the reduced carbon footprint of products of UK-based car makers when making decisions on Ministerial cars.","date":"2008-06-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36069","proposer":"10521","edm":"1769","session":"2007-08","title":"World Day Of Remembrance For Road Traffic Victims","text":"That this House welcomes the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims held on the third Sunday of November each year; notes that this special Day was launched in 1993 by UK road victim charity RoadPeace and promoted by them nationally and internationally until it was adopted by the United Nations on 26th October 2005 `as the appropriate acknowledgement for victims of road traffic crashes and their families'; recognises that the loss of lives on the road and the suffering of bereaved and injured road crash victims deserves much greater recognition than has been provided until now; and calls on the Government to give official recognition to World Remembrance Day as a means of showing compassion and care to the millions of UK road crash victims highlighting the scale and impact of road deaths and injuries and the need to address road danger and its consequences with renewed urgency.","date":"2008-06-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36073","proposer":"10304","edm":"1773","session":"2007-08","title":"Retro-Reflective Markings On Heavy Goods Vehicles","text":"That this House believes that new measures are needed to reduce the disproportionate number of fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles, which are involved in 13 per cent. of all fatal road accidents in the United Kingdom, yet account for just 5.7 per cent. of road traffic; notes that a report commissioned by the Department for Transport concluded that there was a tangible cost benefit in making retro-reflective markings mandatory on newly registered heavy goods vehicles to increase conspicuity and reduce fatalities, and that a Government consultation found overwhelming support for introducing the measure; understands that the cost of fitting the material to such vehicles is \u00c2\u00a3100, or 0.001 per cent. of the total vehicle cost; is concerned that the Vehicle Certification Agency's timetable will result in just 5 per cent. of newly registered vehicles being fitted with these markings in the 12 months from 10th October 2009, the date set for making the measure mandatory; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to ensure that all newly registered vehicles and their trailers are fitted with conspicuity markings from this date.","date":"2008-06-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"36027","proposer":"10295","edm":"1741","session":"2007-08","title":"Manchester Congestion Charge","text":"That this House notes that proposals are currently being considered for a congestion charge to be introduced in Manchester; further notes that local authorities and residents within Greater Manchester are being consulted in relation to this matter but considers that there is a worrying lack of recognition that many people from Lancashire and other counties neighbouring Greater Manchester also travel into Manchester on a regular basis either for work, business, studying or leisure purposes; further notes the huge impact such a charge would have on such people, particularly as rail networks to and from Manchester are already overcrowded, leaving commuters with no option but to use the car; and therefore calls on the Government to extend the consultation to areas such as Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Merseyside where any congestion charge would have a serious impact on local people.","date":"2008-06-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35993","proposer":"11923","edm":"1707","session":"2007-08","title":"Disruption By Utility Companies","text":"That this House notes with concern that too often roads and pavements are dug up by utility companies with little or no co-ordination; recognises the frustration this causes for local residents and businesses; laments the limited powers given to local authorities to direct, co-ordinate and manage this disruption; and calls on the Government to invest local authorities with the necessary powers effectively to co-ordinate the digging up of roads and pavements by utility companies.","date":"2008-06-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35953","proposer":"11812","edm":"1661","session":"2007-08","title":"Road Traffic (S.i., 2008, No. 1312)","text":"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1312), dated 14th May 2008, a copy of which was laid before this House on 15th May, be annulled.","date":"2008-06-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35862","proposer":"11174","edm":"1585","session":"2007-08","title":"Parking Charges At Hospitals","text":"That this House recognises the additional financial strain put on patients and their friends and relatives by increased parking charges at hospitals in the North West of England including Southport Hospital and Leighton Hospital near Crewe and Nantwich amongst others; notes that regular patients, and the friends and families of inpatients, face particular hardship in the face of the 50 per cent. increases brought in; notes that the Welsh Assembly Government has cut all hospital parking charges; and calls on hospital trusts in the North West to listen to the concerns of local people and consider schemes to ensure that patients and their friends and relatives do not face exorbitant costs when visiting hospitals.","date":"2008-05-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35829","proposer":"10790","edm":"1464A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Vehicle Excise Duty","text":"at end add `in order to ensure that the costs of motoring relative to personal income do not fall any further as they have in recent years.'.","date":"2008-05-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35800","proposer":"11589","edm":"1530","session":"2007-08","title":"VALUE ADDED TAX ON CHILDREN'S CAR SEAT BASES","text":"That this House notes that section 96 of the Finance Act 2001 introduced a reduced rate of five per cent. value added tax for children's car seats; further notes that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) currently interpret this section to exclude fixed-base safety seats, which are increasingly the norm; recognises that 2006 legislation made it compulsory for all new models of cars to have ISOFIX points, the worldwide standard for installing children's car seats; regrets that HMRC is imposing a 17.5 per cent. value added tax rate on the new bases, which are an integral part of the easier to fit and safer children's car seats; wants the scope or interpretation of section 96 to be reviewed to keep pace with technological and legislative advances; and urges Treasury Ministers to take appropriate steps.","date":"2008-05-09","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35729","proposer":"10089","edm":"1464","session":"2007-08","title":"Vehicle Excise Duty","text":"That this House is concerned at the retrospective effect of the vehicle excise duty changes announced in Budget 2008 to take effect from 2009; and asks the Government to reconsider.","date":"2008-04-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35621","proposer":"10329","edm":"1374","session":"2007-08","title":"Driver Safety","text":"That this House notes with real concern the increase in the number of attacks on and murders of professional drivers in the private hire car industry; recognises the important and crucial role of professional and private hire drivers in providing a valuable service across the UK; congratulates the GMB union on raising these important issues; and calls on the Government to examine and promote all proposals to reduce the number of attacks on and murders of taxi drivers.","date":"2008-04-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35645","proposer":"11245","edm":"1342A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Long Distance Transport Of Animals For Slaughter","text":"leave out from second `the' to `a' in line 3 and insert `Government will impose a policy to enforce'.","date":"2008-04-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35646","proposer":"11245","edm":"1342A2","session":"2007-08","title":"Long Distance Transport Of Animals For Slaughter","text":"leave out from `vehicle' to end.","date":"2008-04-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35647","proposer":"10336","edm":"1353A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Illegal Parking Of Foreign-Registered Vehicles","text":"at end insert `whether they are parked on the public highway or on privately-owned land.'.","date":"2008-04-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35586","proposer":"10491","edm":"1342","session":"2007-08","title":"Long Distance Transport Of Animals For Slaughter","text":"That this House supports the goal of the global campaign to end the long distance transport of animals for slaughter; expresses the hope that the European Commission will expedite its review of the European Union rules on transport, proposes a short finite limit on journey times for slaughter and improved standards covering vehicles, journey plans and areas where animals can rest off the transport vehicle; and calls upon the Government actively to support further measures in these areas within the European Union.","date":"2008-04-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35593","proposer":"10470","edm":"1349","session":"2007-08","title":"A14 In Cambridgeshire","text":"That this House is alarmed by the 52 deaths on the A14 in Cambridgeshire in the last 10 years; notes with concern there have been 12 serious accidents on the trunk road this year causing two fatalities; is concerned at the delays and spiralling costs of long-proposed improvements to this lethal highway; congratulates the Cambridge News on its A14 - We Need Action Now campaign; and calls on the Government and Highways Agency urgently to commence the upgrading of the A14 to full dual carriageway and near motorway standard throughout Cambridgeshire to prevent more accidents, deaths and injuries.","date":"2008-04-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35597","proposer":"11093","edm":"1353","session":"2007-08","title":"Illegal Parking Of Foreign-Registered Vehicles","text":"That this House notes that foreign vehicles can avoid parking fines by registering abroad; believes that this is unacceptable; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to give local authorities the power to tow away and confiscate illegally parked vehicles that are registered outside the UK.","date":"2008-04-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35517","proposer":"11869","edm":"1282","session":"2007-08","title":"Drink Driving (No. 2)","text":"That this House recognises the misery and suffering that can frequently result from the actions of drink drivers and supports information campaigns designed to further improve public attitudes towards drink driving as well as rigorous enforcement of the existing law; but is concerned that reducing the drink driving limit from 80 mg to 50 mg per 100 ml of blood could distract attention away from the most serious and dangerous transgressors who routinely drive after consuming far more than the existing legal level of alcohol; would potentially criminalise many people whose activities and social attitudes are entirely law-abiding and conscientious towards their fellow citizens; would particularly harm social activity in rural communities with very limited public transport; and would further damage small brewers and village pubs which are already struggling from the impact of cheap off-sales alcohol, the smoking ban and higher alcohol taxes and are closing on a daily basis.","date":"2008-03-31","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35481","proposer":"11189","edm":"1247","session":"2007-08","title":"Drink Driving","text":"That this House recognises the misery and suffering that can frequently result from the actions of drink drivers; condemns the actions of those who engage in this unacceptable behaviour; and supports the reduction of the drink driving limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood.","date":"2008-03-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35466","proposer":"11199","edm":"1178A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Dartford-Thurrock Crossing","text":"after `Bexley', insert `and Havering'.","date":"2008-03-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35467","proposer":"11199","edm":"1178A2","session":"2007-08","title":"Dartford-Thurrock Crossing","text":"after `Bexley', insert `and Havering'.","date":"2008-03-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35468","proposer":"11199","edm":"1178A3","session":"2007-08","title":"Dartford-Thurrock Crossing","text":"after `Bexley', insert `and Havering'.","date":"2008-03-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35424","proposer":"10487","edm":"1198","session":"2007-08","title":"Effective Car Park Management (No. 2)","text":"That this House notes with incredulity that Matthew Brough has demanded an immediate apology and retraction from the Lancashire Telegraph and Leader Times series of newspapers for referring to him as the owner of Effective Car Park Management (ECPM), the trading name of MJB Car Park Management Ltd which has issued hundreds of penalty notices in threatening terms against unsuspecting motorists in Pendle causing immense anxiety and distress; further notes that Brough has complained to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) about the inaccuracy; notes that on his own admission Brough works for ECPM but omits to say that it is owned by his wife, Ruth Brough, who shares the same address as Brough at Longfield Court, Barnoldswick and that she is a director of many companies with which Brough is associated including Purple Security Services Ltd, MJB Support Services Ltd, Purple Security Northern, Purple Security Southern and WANS Contracting Ltd; further notes that Brough has set up yet another company, Nupark Car Parks Ltd, registered at the Innovation Centre in Nelson; urges both newspapers to resist any further pressure from Brough and to publish full details of the web companies Brough has established and wound up over recent years with the involvement of his wife Ruth and mother Lynn; calls on the PCC to take no action in support of Matthew Brough, whose constant threats of litigation and aggressive pursuit of motorists mark him out as being wholly unfit to be involved in car parking enforcement in any capacity; and urges Lancashire County Council Trading Standards to conclude their investigations into Brough's activities without delay.","date":"2008-03-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35399","proposer":"17340","edm":"1178","session":"2007-08","title":"Dartford-Thurrock Crossing","text":"That this House notes the annual traffic flow at the Dartford Crossing decreased between 2004 and 2007 while overall income from charges increased; further notes that charging at the Dartford Crossing was to cease when financial commitments for the Crossing had been met; acknowledges the Department for Transport's proposal for a local discount scheme for residents in the Dartford and Thurrock local authority areas as part of their ongoing consultation; is concerned that Bexley local authority area was not included in the proposal; recognises that Bexley residents will have to pay 50 per cent. more to use the crossing if they do not buy a Dart-tag; and calls on the Government to add Bexley to the local discount scheme.","date":"2008-03-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35304","proposer":"11323","edm":"1096","session":"2007-08","title":"Parking Charges At Welsh Hospitals","text":"That this House congratulates the Welsh Assembly Government on its decision to scrap parking charges at Welsh hospitals.","date":"2008-03-03","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35196","proposer":"11656","edm":"998","session":"2007-08","title":"Climate Change And London","text":"That this House recognises that emissions from urban road traffic make a significant contribution towards climate change; notes that carbon dioxide emissions from the largest 4x4s, high powered sports cars and large luxury vehicles can be up to four times as great of those of the least polluting cars; supports measures which encourage people to choose more energy efficient forms of transport; therefore welcomes the ground breaking initiative by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, to introduce a carbon dioxide congestion charge in central London based on the polluter pays principle; further notes that this will help fund improvements in cycling and walking in the capital; and believes that the Mayor should be congratulated for introducing a world leading scheme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.","date":"2008-02-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"35079","proposer":"10295","edm":"903","session":"2007-08","title":"Overseas Heavy Goods Vehicles","text":"That this House notes that one in seven of the heaviest lorries on UK roads now comes from overseas; recognises that these vehicles contribute nothing towards the costs they impose in terms of road wear and air quality, which in turn gives them an unfair competitive advantage over UK hauliers, who face higher duties; and calls on the Government to introduce a vignette (Brit disc) which will act as a daily charge levied on a non-national vehicle operating in another EU state.","date":"2008-02-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34992","proposer":"10487","edm":"826","session":"2007-08","title":"Effective Car Park Management","text":"That this House notes with grave concern the plight of scores of people who have received multiple penalty notices couched in the most threatening terms from Effective Car Park Management (ECPM) for allegedly parking without authorisation on private land at the Lomeshaye Business Village in Pendle owned by Bizspace; notes that ECPM is registered at Companies House as MJB Car Park Management but that neither company is registered with the umbrella trade association for the parking enforcement industry, the British Parking Association; acknowledges that only members of the British Parking Association can request and receive data electronically from the Driver and Vehicle Licensng Agency (DVLA); is astonished to learn that the DVLA has been supplying Matthew Brough, the owner of ECPM, with personal data from the DVLA database on the grounds that the company's request is made by paper and not electronically and calls on the Government to close this loophole without delay; further believes that Bizspace should terminate its contract with Matthew Brough forthwith; and considers that Brough's business practices are wholly unacceptable and that he is a cheat and a fraudster and that the debt collectors mentioned in the parking tickets have no rights of entry or rights to seize goods and that anyone with a ticket who believes they have been entrapped by Brough should refuse to pay and insist on the matter going before the courts.","date":"2008-01-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34960","proposer":"10295","edm":"795","session":"2007-08","title":"Petrol Prices","text":"That this House notes that the price of crude oil has recently fallen to $90 per barrel; recognises that this is a consequence of the fluctuations of the stock market which have caused concern over future levels of demand for crude oil; notes that the price of petrol has steadily risen to reach well over 100 pence per litre on the premise that these prices reflect the rise in oil prices; and calls on the main petrol retailers to match the recent decline in oil prices by reducing the price of petrol.","date":"2008-01-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34945","proposer":"11406","edm":"781","session":"2007-08","title":"Humber Bridge Toll","text":"That this House notes that the Humber Bridge was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world for 16 years; further notes that the original estimated cost of construction was \u00c2\u00a328 million, which grew to \u00c2\u00a398 million by completion; further notes that, thanks to interest charges, the Humber Bridge Board, which oversees the running of the bridge, saw its debt rise to \u00c2\u00a3439 million; further notes that the Humber Bridge (Debits) Act 1996, passed by this House to reorganise the Board's debts in order to safeguard the bridge's future maintenance, reduced that debt and that the current debt is \u00c2\u00a3333 million; further notes that in order to manage the debt, the Board charges a toll which, at \u00c2\u00a35.40 for a return car crossing, is the most expensive toll crossing in the country; further notes that local businesses regard this toll as a hindrance to the local economy because it discourages investment; further notes that Richard Kendall, policy executive at the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, said recently that `the toll stops businesses on the north bank investing in the south bank and vice versa'; further notes that a petition calling on the Government to write off the debt itself has been signed by over 5,000 people; and calls on the Government to look into the feasibility of writing off the Bridge's debt at the earliest possible date.","date":"2008-01-24","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34924","proposer":"10295","edm":"761","session":"2007-08","title":"Police Procurement Of Vehicles","text":"That this House notes that each police authority procures its own vehicles; recognises that the vast majority of police vehicles are built abroad; believes that all public sector bodies should do everything they can to support British industry; and urges the Government to work with the chief constables to ensure that police forces purchase UK built cars.","date":"2008-01-23","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34878","proposer":"11784","edm":"721","session":"2007-08","title":"Disabled Parking At Supermarkets","text":"That this House recognises that parents of young children and disabled people gain tremendous benefit from more generously sized parking bays; disapproves of the selfish use of these special parking bays by people who do not need them; congratulates ASDA on its plans to charge drivers parking at its stores if they wrongly park in a space reserved for parents with young children or disabled people; welcomes the fact that all profits generated from the charges will go to baby charity Tommy's and Motability, the national disability charity providing the leading car scheme for disabled people; further notes that the trial in North West England saw the number of available parking spots in the disabled and parent section rise by up to 60 per cent.; encourages other supermarkets to follow suit; and suggests that supermarkets consider making parking bays in future developments larger to benefit all their customers.","date":"2008-01-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34765","proposer":"10258","edm":"612","session":"2007-08","title":"Steer Clear Campaign","text":"That this House commends the Steer Clear campaign, which encourages all seasonal revellers either to leave their car at home or to appoint a designated driver; furthermore congratulates the Portsmouth News for promoting the campaign, and the 35 pubs that have already signed up, promising to offer a soft drink to the designated driver in a group of three or more; encourages the setting up of these initiatives countrywide; and expresses the hope that schemes of this kind will be successful in reducing the level of drink-driving and drink-related road accidents.","date":"2007-12-18","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34691","proposer":"10045","edm":"550","session":"2007-08","title":"Out Of Town Shopping Centres","text":"That this House is concerned by proposals from the Competition Commission in its Provisional Findings report to weaken planning policy and planning policy statements in relation to town centres to allow for more supermarkets to be built on the edge of towns and in out of town locations; notes that the majority of supermarkets are already being built in out of town centres; notes that many independent smaller shops are closing each year and reducing people's choice of where to shop; believes that a weakening of policy in this way would allow all types of retail to locate out of town leading to an increase in car-based shopping and related climate change emissions; further believes that there will be a disproportionate effect on households without cars if more local shops are lost; and calls on the Government to retain key existing tests such as need, accessibility and scale and to strengthen, rather than weaken, planning policy for town centres by also introducing a presumption against out of town retail development and new tests for diversity, local economic impact and carbon emissions.","date":"2007-12-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34639","proposer":"10170","edm":"506","session":"2007-08","title":"Rail Freight And The Environment","text":"That this House notes the environmental benefits of rail freight over other transport modes; recognises that an average aggregate freight train can remove up to 120 HGV lorries from the road network; supports Government steps to encourage modal shift from road to rail; and is therefore opposed to the introduction of longer and heavier goods vehicles onto the UK road network that could weigh up to 60 tonnes and be as long as 25.25 metres.","date":"2007-12-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34655","proposer":"12004","edm":"479A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Forth Road Bridge","text":"at end add ` and notes the failure over eight years of the so-called Lib-Lab executive to remove tolls from the Forth Bridge.'.","date":"2007-12-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34612","proposer":"13712","edm":"479","session":"2007-08","title":"Forth Road Bridge","text":"That this House recognises the importance of the Forth Road Bridge to the economy of Fife and the rest of the UK; notes that experts believe that the bridge could be closed to heavy goods vehicles in 2013 and all vehicles in 2019; welcomes the Scottish Government's consultation exercise which explored all the possible routes and build options; notes with concern the failure of the Scottish Government to announce the early go-ahead for a replacement crossing as promised in the Scottish National Party manifesto; regrets that the Scottish Government has not ruled out the possibility of tolling on the replacement crossing, nor committed to enhance cross-Forth public transport provision; and calls on the Scottish Government to announce its plans for a replacement crossing without further delay.","date":"2007-12-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34573","proposer":"11784","edm":"444","session":"2007-08","title":"Personal Transporters","text":"That this House notes the commitment made to a low carbon future by the Government and the provisions contained in the Climate Change Bill to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050; observes that much of these emissions are from vehicles, and that 80 per cent. of all urban journeys in vehicles are less than two miles; recognises that in several other European countries and US states, Segway PTs, a low carbon emission personal transporter, powered by electricity, have proved a beneficial addition to the transport mix, reducing the number of short journeys made in cars, and providing a number of uses, including for police and emergency services; further notes that more than 400 police departments make use of this technology worldwide; further notes their potential use as personal transportation for elderly or less able-bodied people; supports the request from the Police Federation for a trial of Segway PTs; and calls on the Government to make provision for a pilot scheme on public land to demonstrate the most appropriate way to integrate the Segway PT into UK transport infrastructure.","date":"2007-11-29","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34339","proposer":"10373","edm":"170A1","session":"2007-08","title":"QUEEN'S SPEECH TRAFFIC DISRUPTION","text":"Leave out from `Speech' to end and add `and the Remembrance Commemorations on 11th November; but sees little alternative at a time of heightened security concerns and believes it is a small price to pay both to uphold the traditions of the United Kingdom parliament and to honour the memory of the servicemen and women who have died for our freedom.'.","date":"2007-11-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34340","proposer":"10483","edm":"170A2","session":"2007-08","title":"QUEEN'S SPEECH TRAFFIC DISRUPTION","text":"leave out from `questions' to end and add `the need for an annual State Opening ceremony; and believes that the State Opening should only take place after a general election.'.","date":"2007-11-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34308","proposer":"10295","edm":"206","session":"2007-08","title":"Public Procurement Of Cars And Commercial Vehicles","text":"That this House notes the number of cars run by the police, ambulance service, fire service, Government departments and agencies, such as HM Coastguard and Transport Police and Ministry of Defence Police, which are built abroad; recognises the need to support British manufacturing and promote UK car and commercial vehicle production; and believes that the Government should take a lead in this area by ensuring that vehicles purchased by these authorities are built in the UK.","date":"2007-11-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34266","proposer":"10459","edm":"170","session":"2007-08","title":"QUEEN'S SPEECH TRAFFIC DISRUPTION","text":"That this House notes with concern the traffic disruption caused by the closing of St Margaret Street and Millbank\/Great Parliament Street between 30th October and 12th November for the Queen's Speech; notes that these closures have resulted in serious traffic disruption for thousands of Londoners; recognises the obvious security requirements surrounding the State Opening of Parliament, but questions the merits of a 13 day road closure for an eight minute speech; and calls on the Government to carry out a review of the necessity of such measures for the State Opening in 2008.","date":"2007-11-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34223","proposer":"11420","edm":"133","session":"2007-08","title":"Re-Registration Of Vehicles","text":"That this House notes that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will not agree to the re-registration of vehicles of which number plates have been stolen until such time as a number of crimes have occurred; believes that this is an unnecessarily relaxed approach to the problem of car cloning and causes unnecessary distress to the victims of such acts; and calls for the DVLA to change its procedures to be more responsive and allow early re-registration.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34229","proposer":"11480","edm":"139","session":"2007-08","title":"Severn Bridges Toll","text":"That this House believes that the payment system on the two Severn bridges is out of date as it requires drivers to pay in cash only at toll booths on both bridges; notes that the London congestion charge can be paid by cash, by credit card, by telephone and on the internet; and urges the Government to amend Regulation 5 of the Severn Bridges Act 1992 to allow the introduction of facilities to pay by card and online.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34238","proposer":"10470","edm":"148","session":"2007-08","title":"Food Miles","text":"That this House notes with concern that carbon dioxide emissions from food transport for UK consumption increased by five per cent. last year; further notes that imports by air increased by 31 per cent. in 2006, equivalent to 65,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide; believes that the British farming industry and British consumers can play a key role in reducing food miles; calls on the Government to facilitate this by introducing country of origin food labelling; and urges public bodies to do everything they can within EU rules to source food for schools, hospitals and other public institutions locally.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Roads","id":"34093","proposer":"10521","edm":"3","session":"2007-08","title":"National Road Safety Week","text":"That this House supports National Road Safety Week, 5th to 11th November, co-ordinated by Brake, the road safety charity; is appalled that 2,608 children were killed or seriously injured last year while walking or cycling in the UK - seven children every day; is concerned that road safety education is not part of the National Curriculum; notes the Health Development Agency estimates that 20 mph limits on residential roads would reduce child death and injury by 67 per cent., saving 13,000 children from death or injury on the roads each year; and urges the Government to ensure that every school teaches road safety and every local authority protects its children with 20 mph zones around schools and homes.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"}]