§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the cost per annum of traffic congestion to(a) the Exchequer, (b) businesses and (c) the average household; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleCongestion is costly, but the cost can be measured usefully only against realistic alternatives such as more or less road building or policies for reducing or redirecting traffic. There is therefore no single figure which can be quoted. Much of the Department's roads and traffic expenditure and policies are, however, concerned with reducing congestion and making the best possible use of available road space.