Asked by: Lord Mawson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what evidence they are aware of regarding whether rubbish on the sides of roads in England has increased or decreased over the current Parliament, and what that evidence shows.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The Highways Agency published a litter strategy in April 2014 and this highlights that since April 2011 the amount of litter on the strategic road network has reduced by approximately 25%.
The Highways Agency continues to work with relevant stakeholders on litter issues, including encouraging commercial vehicle operators to ensure their vehicles do not spill litter or debris. This includes working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Keep Britain Tidy to raise public awareness of the dangers and costs of litter.
The Agency also undertakes campaigns to encourage motorists to take their litter home making use of social media channels and roadside variable message signs to remind drivers to dispose of their litter responsibly.
DEFRA also plays an active role in reducing litter and, as you may know, provides funding to Keep Britain Tidy. This organisation is well established and undertakes a range of activities, including educational campaigns in respect of the impacts that litter can cause to the environment.
In respect to local highway authority roads, the Department for Transport does not hold data in respect of litter on the local road network, as litter clearance is a matter for the relevant local authority.
Asked by: Lord Mawson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the M1 motorway is currently subject to roadworks reducing traffic speeds to 50 miles per hour; and how long any such roadworks will take to complete.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The percentage of the M1 currently subject to roadworks reducing traffic speeds to 50 mph is 25 percent.
The table below provides details of the projects on the M1 which are currently under construction or are undertaking works that require a 50mph speed limit to be in place. It also advises when those speed limits will be removed, and where applicable, when the project is expected to complete.
Scheme | Removal of 50mph speed restriction | Publically committed scheme completion |
M1 J19-16 smart motorway* | Summer 2015 | Post 2015 |
M1 J19 improvement | Autumn 2016 | 2016/17 |
M1 J28-31 smart motorway | Autumn 2015 | 2015 |
M1 J39-42 smart motorway | Autumn 2015 | 2015/16 |
*The M1 J19-16 scheme is a project identified for delivery post 2015. The works currently being undertaken at this location are central barrier work, replacing the existing, life expired, steel central reserve with a concrete barrier. The Highways Agency will also take the opportunity to undertake some associated smart motorway enabling works at the same time in readiness for scheme start.
Asked by: Lord Mawson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated cost to the British economy of roadworks on the M1 during 2014–15.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The total estimated congestion cost for journeys through all road works on the M1 was £55 million for the five month period April to August 2014 (the most recent data available for financial year 2014/15).
Asked by: Lord Mawson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the duplication of signage on minor country roads has any impact on the safety of passing traffic.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
In order to reduce sign clutter, the Government issued a special direction in 2012 to provide English traffic authorities with the discretion to place one traffic sign at the start of a restriction or prohibition instead of two. New traffic signs regulations coming into force next year will extend this freedom to speed limit signs. We will provide new guidance to help traffic authorities determine where it is safe and appropriate.
The Department for Transport does not hold data on the number and cost of duplicated traffic signs on minor county roads. We recently conducted research into the number of traffic signs on roads in England, but this did not differentiate between road types.
More information on the new regulations and the research may be viewed at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/traffic-signs-regulations-and-general-directions-2015
Asked by: Lord Mawson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the cost of duplicating road signage on minor country roads.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
In order to reduce sign clutter, the Government issued a special direction in 2012 to provide English traffic authorities with the discretion to place one traffic sign at the start of a restriction or prohibition instead of two. New traffic signs regulations coming into force next year will extend this freedom to speed limit signs. We will provide new guidance to help traffic authorities determine where it is safe and appropriate.
The Department for Transport does not hold data on the number and cost of duplicated traffic signs on minor county roads. We recently conducted research into the number of traffic signs on roads in England, but this did not differentiate between road types.
More information on the new regulations and the research may be viewed at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/traffic-signs-regulations-and-general-directions-2015
Asked by: Lord Mawson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the amount of signage on minor roads in the countryside; and in particular, whether they consider it necessary to have identical signs facing in the same direction on both sides of such roads.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
In order to reduce sign clutter, the Government issued a special direction in 2012 to provide English traffic authorities with the discretion to place one traffic sign at the start of a restriction or prohibition instead of two. New traffic signs regulations coming into force next year will extend this freedom to speed limit signs. We will provide new guidance to help traffic authorities determine where it is safe and appropriate.
The Department for Transport does not hold data on the number and cost of duplicated traffic signs on minor county roads. We recently conducted research into the number of traffic signs on roads in England, but this did not differentiate between road types.
More information on the new regulations and the research may be viewed at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/traffic-signs-regulations-and-general-directions-2015