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.

The number of people who were killed or seriously injured (known as KSI casualties) in reported personal injury road traffic accidents in Medway Council and Kent County Council each year from 2010 to 2013 is provided in the table below. The table also includes how many of the casualties were under the age of 18.

Statistics for 2014 will be available in June 2015.

Grimeford Lane will be re-opened by the end of week commencing 16 March.

The dates of closure for the other roads at present are in accordance with the following programme:

- Chorley Road – (skew bridge) full closure from 26 January – 19 June 2015

- Rawlinson Lane – full closure from 5 January – 22 May 2015

- Station Road, Blackrod – full closure from 2 February – 15 May 2015.

Network Rail took the decision to close the roads simultaneously in order to coordinate with the railway closures. These kinds of closures are planned up to two years in advance. In this area Network Rail had five bridges to rebuild and two possession slots; the intention was to split the bridge rebuilding over two years, doing two in 2014 and three in 2015. Due to environmental impacts identified at Grimeford Lane last year that particular bridge was rescheduled from the original plan to be completed this year.

Grimeford Lane will be re-opened by the end of week commencing 16 March.

The dates of closure for the other roads at present are in accordance with the following programme:

- Chorley Road – (skew bridge) full closure from 26 January – 19 June 2015

- Rawlinson Lane – full closure from 5 January – 22 May 2015

- Station Road, Blackrod – full closure from 2 February – 15 May 2015.

Network Rail had a meeting with the Rt Hon Member for Chorley (Lindsay Hoyle MP) in winter 2013/14 and met with the Hon Member for Bolton West (Julie Hilling MP) in February 2014 to give an overview of the bridge and tunnel works required in 2014/15. Network Rail held meetings with all tiers of local government, including town councillors, borough councillors and county councillors.

Both by successive governments and in law it has been concluded that businesses do not have an entitlement to compensation from such work. As Network Rail receives a significant amount of public funding and is responsible for over 30,000 structures it is not in a position to provide compensation for each disruption.

Both successive governments and in law it has been concluded that businesses do not have an entitlement to compensation from such work. As Network Rail receives a significant amount of public funding and are responsible for over 30,000 structures it is not in a position to provide compensation for each disruption.

Network Rail had extensive discussions and meetings to plan the work with both Lancashire County Council and Bolton Councils in excess of 12 months in advance of the bridge closures in Adlington, Lancashire. Town councillors, borough councillors and county councillors were brought together in one room to discuss the work. Importantly this gauged their preferences on the order in which bridges would be rebuilt in the Adlington area before any orders were submitted to the local authority.

Network Rail also held information events for elected members and the public to learn about the work before it commenced.

The number of reported casualties by severity for each year since 2010 is given in table below:

The Government has not set road safety targets for local authorities, and is not considering reinstating them. However, local authorities are free to set their own targets if they find this useful.

The fact that the Government has not set a target does not mean that it does not consider road safety to be a high priority. The strategic framework includes forecasts of the casualty numbers that we might expect to see through to 2030 from the measures implemented by Government, and the actions of local authorities.

While we believe that previous road safety targets have been useful we do not consider that over-arching national targets are necessary for road safety in Great Britain. This is because we do not believe that further persuasion is needed on the importance of road safety. We expect central and local government to continue to prioritise road safety and continue to seek improvements.

Her Majesty’s Government does not hold any information about the number of traffic accidents that involve a pedestrian using a mobile device.

The figure quoted was calculated by comparing the amount of freight moved by rail in Great Britain with the amount moved by heavy goods vehicles by road. As it is measured in tonne kilometres it takes into account both the distance travelled by the freight and its weight.

The National Policy Statement supports the development of a robust infrastructure network of Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges in order to reduce road congestion, and deliver goods quickly and efficiently by rail, reduce carbon emissions, support growth and create employment. It aims to ensure we have modern distribution centres linked into both the rail and trunk road system in appropriate locations to serve our major conurbations.

Transport investment decisions are supported with a 5-part business case. Appraisal information largely informs the economic case, which aims to provide a comprehensive overview of a proposal’s impacts. This includes a wide range of social and environmental factors, as well as time savings and economic impacts. The proportion of benefits falling in these different categories varies on a proposal-by-proposal basis and information on the proportion of benefits from (1) small time savings, and (2) other effects such as wider impacts, is not centrally held.

My Lords, Britain has some of the safest roads in the world. However, young drivers are disproportionately involved in collisions. There is a difficult balance to strike between promoting young drivers’ safety and their freedom to access work and education. We will not rule out further measures, but at present we are focusing our efforts on technological solutions. We recently commissioned research into how telematics can reduce accident rates among young drivers and the findings will help to shape future road safety policy.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to produce a Green Paper to address the incidence of vehicle accidents involving young drivers.

I thank the Minister for that reply. Young drivers account for about 20% of all road deaths, yet they represent only 7% of all fully licensed drivers and have less mileage than older drivers. Measures have been tried for many years, and all have failed. It is now time for this issue to be grasped. I believe the time has come for an all-party commitment, before the next election, to a Green Paper on young drivers that is prepared to see more radical solutions than we have seen so far. This will not only harness those who want to support this but will certainly give some relief to all the parents in Britain who are terrified of the statistics I have quoted. Is the Minister prepared to be part of an all-party commitment to a new Green Paper?

Will the Minister consider looking at the Australian system, which is very much tougher on young drivers? Until a certain period has passed, you have to have a nil alcohol level, but the real secret is enforcement. Will she look at that policy?

My Lords, the Minister will be aware that of the serious accidents caused by young drivers, the great proportion of those accidents, and fatalities, are caused by young men drivers, not by young women drivers. This is as much a cultural problem as anything else. What are the Government doing specifically to tackle that aspect of the problem?

My Lords, I concentrated on road safety for many years when I was a member of the Thames Valley Police Authority. The injuries which young men suffer—often at night, usually driving too fast, usually driving in wet conditions—are horrendous, and they are horrendously expensive. I wonder whether, instead of a Green Paper, the Minister would consider some legislation to make things like provisional licences a reality rather than something which people refer to every few years and then forget about.