§ 11. Mr. Spriggsasked the Minister of Transport what methods are employed by his Department to measure road traffic congestion; and what is his estimate of the effect road traffic congestion has upon Britain's economy.
§ Mr. HayThis is a highly technical matter and is not capable of a short explanation. In practice, various methods are used, according to the purpose of the study. I accept that road traffic congestion is detrimental to the country's economy. That is why we are now engaged on the largest road building programme Britain has ever had.
§ Mr. SpriggsIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, according to Professor Jones of Leeds University, the estimated cost of road congestion in the United Kingdom today is £500 million a year and that by 1967 it will have reached the astronomical figure of £2,000 million? Will he and his right hon. Friends bear in mind this cost to the economy when considering Dr. Beeching's proposals for the closure of stations and branch lines?
§ Mr. HayThe estimates which various distinguished people provide from time to time as to the cost in money terms of congestion continue to rise. I have heard of £240 million, £300 million and now £500 million. The difficulty about all these estimates is that they are based on an assumption that in an ideal situation all traffic should be able to make all its journeys under light traffic conditions. That is something which one cannot expect to happen and it is not a realistic basis for assessment.
§ Sir Richard PilkingtonWill my hon. Friend remember that, if the proposal to have even larger lorries on the roads goes through, the congestion will be worse than it is now?
§ Mr. HayNot necessarily. It depends on how quickly we can get on with our road building programme.