§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken to implement the programme announced by the Prime Minister in January for a sustainable development strategy in respect of the relative costs and benefits of various modes of transport within a free or a managed market.
§ Dr. MawhinneySince the launch of the sustainable development strategy in January we have made good progress in developing a framework within which people can exercise their transport choices in ways that are consistent with our overall environmental goals. A number of measures have been taken which will contribute to such a framework including
publishing jointly with the Department of the Environment a new planning policy guidance note on transport (PPG 13),agreeing a new set of standards for emissions from new passenger cars for introduction in January 1997,publishing guidance to encourage local authorities to devise balanced and coherent transport strategies for their areas,establishing the Highways Agency,conducting a review of the roads programme,recently announced initiatives on vehicle emissions covering roadside checks and tighter MOT limits from January 1996.In determining each of these measures we have put particular weight on the need to take account of relevant costs and benefits.