§ 5. Mr. Peter Bottomley (Worthing, West)If his Department has specific targets in respect of road traffic reduction. [54361]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Ms Glenda Jackson)Relevant targets include both local and national targets. The Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997 obliges local traffic authorities to consider whether to set targets for road traffic reduction on local roads in their area. In considering national targets for road traffic reduction, we will seek advice from the commission for integrated 1078 transport, the new independent body that we will set up to review progress on implementing our integrated transport policy.
§ Mr. BottomleyWith acknowledgements to the hon. and green Member for Ceredigion (Mr. Dafis), who introduced the Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act 1998, may I ask whether the Minister will announce national targets? Will she also set an example by announcing the miles travelled by Ministers in ministerial cars and targets for reducing them?
In addition, will the Minister consider particular areas, such as my constituency? It is virtually impossible for a pedestrian or cyclist to cross the A27 in Worthing, where, because the Government have not provided crossings across trunk roads, many people have to use cars.
§ Ms JacksonNational targets for the reduction of road traffic must have a clear and specific justification in terms of the environmental benefits that they are expected to achieve, and must, in order to be preferred to other measures, represent the most effective method of achieving those objectives. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister stood by his commitment on where we will be on road traffic reduction in five years' time, and I stand by the assurance that I gave to the House on Second Reading of the 1998 Act on 30 January, which was that the first report under that Act would be prepared within 18 months of enactment—by the end of 1999. As regards safe routes across trunk roads, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is aware that Sustrans is engaged in that matter with Government support. Local transport plans will have £700 million more during the next few years. Since we came to office, we have asked local authorities to prioritise the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. We expect the issue of improving facilities and encouraging more cyclists to take a prominent place in local transport plans.
§ Mr. Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre)On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerPoints of order come after statements. I shall look the hon. Gentleman's way then.