§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what studies his Department has conducted into the effects on the environment of the London area of the proposed introduction of congestion charging by the GLA. [39846]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 4 March 2002]: The Government commissioned and published early in 2000 a report by an independent group of experts called Road Charging Options for London——A Technical Assessment (known as the ROCOL report). Copies are available in the library. The report covers environmental effects. It says that there could be environmental and amenity benefits from the reduced traffic volumes but much would depend on the how the benefits of reduced traffic were allocated. Emissions of CO2 would be reduced, but there would be no significant improvement in local air quality.