To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many representations his Department has received on traffic congestion in town centres in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (282860)

The Department for Transport's records reveal that the following numbers of ministerial and official correspondence have been received over the last five years which have 'traffic congestion in town centres' within the subject heading:

There will have been many more representations to the Department on this issue, but it would not be possible to provide figures for these without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the distance travelled on (a) Highways Agency roads and (b) other roads by foreign-registered light vehicles in the last 12 months. (282889)

[holding answer 29 June 2009]: It is estimated that foreign registered cars and light goods vehicles travelled 319 million kilometres on Britain's motorways in 2008, accounting for around 0.4 per cent. of the total distance travelled by these types of vehicles.

On other roads in Great Britain, it is estimated that foreign registered cars and light goods vehicles travelled 1.438 billion kilometres in 2008, around 0.2 per cent. of the total distance travelled by these types of vehicles.

The estimates are based on information collected through the Department for Transport's Vehicle Excise Duty Evasion survey in June 2008. They have been calculated on the assumption that the rate of foreign registered vehicles in traffic observed during this month is representative of the rate throughout the year.

Estimates of foreign registered traffic are split between motorways and all other roads, while the Highways Agency is responsible for managing both motorways and other major trunk roads in England. Estimates covering all Highways Agency routes are therefore not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.