HL Deb 18 January 2000 vol 608 cc975-8

2.55 p.m.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will create new special bus lanes on motorways and trunk roads, consider allowing their use by vehicles carrying two or more persons and establish time limits on the use of such lanes.

Lord Whitty

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are committed to making the best possible use of the existing trunk road system in tackling problems of traffic congestion. That may, at certain specific locations, involve designated lanes. However, I do not envisage their widespread use in the immediate future on the motorway and trunk road network outside urban areas. Where such lanes are appropriate, consideration needs to be given on a case-by-case basis as to what vehicles may use them and at what times.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. Can he tell us what advice or consultation took place with other countries which have such roads, particularly with regard to their operation, and does he agree that the more commuters car-share the better?

Lord Whitty

My Lords, I absolutely agree. Clearly, in the long run, a reduction in the number of car journeys is appropriate, particularly at peak commuter times. It is noticeable, for example, that at the moment on the way into London approximately 80 per cent of car travel is made by single occupants. That matter must be addressed, and a policy of education and persuasion must be adopted to get people to change their habits.

Lord Randall of St Budeaux

My Lords, with regard to congestion, does the Minister agree that, in aggregate terms, the bus lanes are not strategically very significant and that we should be reducing the number of car journeys in this country, first, by genuinely understanding the needs of the public and, secondly, by recognising that 68 per cent of car journeys are terribly short? However, does my noble friend also agree that the suggestion of the noble Lord, Lord Montagu, of encouraging car-sharing is rather a good one?

Lord Whitty

Yes, my Lords, I believe I have indicated that I consider it to be a good suggestion and one which individuals and employers should encourage. The bus lanes on motorways and trunk roads may be a relatively small feature of our transport system. However, bus lanes within urban areas have proved most effective and have, for example, improved the average journey time of buses in London by 29 per cent. Those journey times could be significantly further improved if there were no obstructions. I believe that, certainly in the urban environment, bus lanes have proved their worth.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, can the Minister confirm a report in The Times today that, rather than reducing traffic or, indeed, holding traffic at present levels, Ministers will concede today that traffic levels will rise by more than a quarter over the next decade? If that is true, would it not be better—I think particularly of the M4 bus lane—to scrap bus lanes altogether because all that motorists see on the M4 bus lane are tourist coaches, taxis and the occasional Government Minister?

Lord Whitty

My Lords, I am not sure whether I have recently passed a copy of a leaflet to the noble Lord, Lord Brabazon, which proves through independent research that at peak times travel times for car drivers on the M4 have improved significantly. There are always a number of taxis on that road, most of which are full of bona fide travellers and not Government Ministers, who, of course, are bona fide travellers in a different sense!

So far as concerns the figures which will be released today by my noble friend Lord Macdonald, the base line figures show an increase in traffic in most areas. However, the various combinations of government policy, applied effectively, would reduce significantly levels of congestion and pollution—the most important issue—rather than traffic volume. That is particularly so in urban areas and to a significant degree on motorways, where traffic is likely to increase most. I suggest that the noble Lord reads that document in detail before he comments further.

Lord Bradshaw

My Lords, will the Minister, in association with his colleagues in the Home Office, take steps to ensure that all police forces in the country co-operate with local authorities in using camera technology to enforce discipline in bus lanes, wherever those bus lanes are?

Lord Whitty

Yes, my Lords. One of the issues to be addressed in the better funding regime we are piloting in relation to speed cameras is the enforcement of parking and lane restrictions. As I have indicated, that will help to improve traffic flow, particularly in congested urban areas. More generally, police forces and chief constables will be following advice to give greater attention to road safety matters including the congestion of bus lanes.

Lord Rotherwick

My Lords, will greater consideration be given to allowing powered two-wheelers, which are both economic and environmentally friendly, further use of bus lanes? As the majority of accidents to these vulnerable, powered two-wheelers are ca used by other people, does he think that in heavily congested areas bus lanes would be by far the best place for them?

Lord Whitty

My Lords, local experiments have been carried out where powered two-wheeler motor cycles have been allowed to use bus lanes. The results are not absolutely clear. Nevertheless, I recognise that in certain circumstances, powered two-wheelers can make a contribution to reducing congestion in urban areas. We would wish an integrated transport policy to take full cognisance of that fact.

Lord Elton

My Lords, as the Minister has broadened his answers to include digital cameras, can he confirm reports that the cost of installing them will be met by a substantial increase in parking fines, possibly of 50 per cent?

Lord Whitty

No, my Lords. Perhaps the media and possibly the noble Lord, Lord Elton, are confusing two separate stories. The funding of such cameras and associated road safety improvements is, indeed, being put on a better and more hypothecated basis. However, the increase in the fixed penalty charge recently indicated by the Home Office relates to a general upgrading of fixed penalties. The previous figure had remained the same for over 10 years. Therefore, an increase was well overdue.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

My Lords, can the Minister explain how the Government's policy of reducing car use, or at least stabilising it in future, squares with the policy, which I understand that the DTI wants to pursue, of relaxing almost completely the planning rules on out-of-town "mega" shopping areas?

Lord Whitty

My Lords, again, I believe that the noble Lord is reading too much into newspaper reports. There has been no change in the planning system as regards out-of-town shopping areas. As regards the general approach to car use, there is a huge underlying growth in traffic, as has been discussed, and it is a case of restraining such traffic. The real issue for motorists and society as a whole is to restrict congestion and pollution. We believe that the measures we are taking will achieve those objectives.