HC Deb 18 May 1998 vol 312 cc220-1W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress by local authorities towards implementing the provisions of the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997. [41949]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Guidance to local authorities on implementing the provisions of the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997 was issued in draft on 15 January for public consultation. The consultation closed on 20 April, and we are now considering the responses received with a view to issuing the final version of the guidance later this year.

Local authorities will need to take account of this guidance in deciding how they intend to meet their duties under the Act. However, they have been asked to report on the broad approach they envisage taking, and the role they see for traffic reduction targets in their area, as part of their bids for Transport Policies and Programme funding, to be submitted by 31 July 1998.