Mr. Mackay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review the type of barrier systems in use on (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads in England and Wales.
Dr. Howells:
Since the 1960s, the former Department of Transport, and more recently the Highways Agency, have spent significant amounts developing barrier systems for use on the UK motorway and trunk road network.
Products include tensioned and untensioned steel barrier, wire rope barrier and concrete barrier. Over the years, these systems have been placed on the network in varying amounts.
There
are now sufficient lengths of these different barrier types on the network to obtain data on their respective in-service performance levels.
This data is currently being collected and used to
support research into the whole-life cost and safety-effectiveness of different types of barrier on motorways and trunk roads.
The research is considering the performance characteristics of
different barrier types, as well as the whole life construction, maintenance, repair and replacement costs, including traffic delay costs and safety risks to operatives carrying out the work.
This
research is expected to be completed in early 2004 and will help in the understanding of the optimum systems for use in different situations on the motorway and trunk road network.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when, and on what basis, motorcycle helmets were made subject to VAT.
John Healey: Motorcycle helmets which meet the
necessary approved standards have been VAT zero-rated since 1 June 1974. The Government have made clear in negotiations on the European Commission's review of reduced VAT rates that we will not agree
to the removal of any of our zero or reduced VAT rate derogations.
