§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he takes of the predicted growth of road traffic in determining the road building programme. [71114]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonOur recent Roads Review was conducted against the high levels of predicted traffic growth forecast. Forecasts of the effects of schemes were an important part of the Review, but we did not follow a "predict and provide" approach. We have moved away from exclusive reliance on road building by looking at other, more sustainable ways of tackling traffic problems, finding ways of making better use of the existing trunk road network along with a smaller, targeted programme of improvement schemes where these have been proved to be necessary.