§ Mr. CallaghanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has undertaken to estimate the comparative environmental cost of transporting freight by(a) road and (b) rail. [39950]
§ Mr. WattsAs part of the Government's commitment to ensuring that transport users pay their full costs, the Department is at the forefront of research trying to place monetary values on the environmental impact of transport. The economics of environmental valuation is still in its infancy and the complexities involved mean that it is not yet possible to derive robust values. However, the Department does take into account the environmental impacts of policies and projects. The Department makes use of freight facilities grants and track access grants to encourage the transport of freight by rail rather than road, which amongst other things recognises the environmental benefits of rail versus road in particular circumstances.