HC Deb 04 April 1989 vol 150 cc22-3W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many visits he has made to any of the route options of the east London assessment study; how many meetings he has had with hon. Members of constituencies affected; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

I have not made any such visits. It is for the consultants to assess their options at this stage. I have had meetings with most hon. Members concerned.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has about the use of routes in the east London assessment study area by heavy lorries, commuter cars and public transport; and if he will make a statement on comparative figures for each of the last eight years.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The information that the hon. Member requests is not available except at disproportionate cost.

The most comprehensive sources of information for the east London assessment study area is the consultants' stage 1 report, copies of which are in the Library.

Figures available for traffic entering central London in the morning peak hours for the following years are:

Cars Heavy goods vehicles Buses/coaches
1979 128,400 3,300 4,200
1981 129,500 2,750 4,350
1983 124,400 2,450 4,500
1985 127,000 2,000 4,300
1987 123,350 1,900 3,650

Source: DTP.

Similar figures for the numbers of commuters in the morning peak are:

Cars Thousands British Rail Thousands London Regional Transport rail Thousands London Regional Transport bus Thousands Total including coaches and cycles Thousands
1980 184 412 305 103 1,031
1981 173 394 336 105 1,037
1982 197 390 283 99 1,013
1983 180 384 323 97 1,026
1984 180 386 351 94 1,049
1985 171 401 364 94 1,069
1986 166 421 381 91 1,093
1987 162 449 403 79 1,125

Sources: British Rail/London Regional Transport.

The figures show that the total number of commuters has increased by 91 per cent. since 1980, that the number commuting by car has fallen substantially and that road traffic entering central London in the morning peak has decreased.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received against the public walk road option in the east London assessment study; how many phone calls, have been made to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

A number of representations, including phone calls, have been received from action groups, amenity groups, residents associations, members of the public and hon. Members about the consultant's options that involve use of the public walk.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to announce his intentions with regard to any routes affected by the assessment studies in London.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

It is too soon to say.