§ Mr. ButterfillTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 26 February,Official Report, column 340, in respect of projections of future road congestion, what assessment he has made of the extent to which it will be practicable and economic for the railways to enlarge their market share of goods and passenger traffic to alleviate likely road congestion; and what proposals he has to quantify this. [25865]
§ Mr. WattsIt is not possible to quantify the potential impact in general terms of an expansion of the railways on national road congestion, although it can make important local differences. Liberalisation and privatisation will improve the ability of rail to attract and retain passenger and freight traffic.