§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on his assessment of the merits of widening motorways; [121022]
(2) if he will make a statement on the environmental impacts of increased road building in the midlands. [121023]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe merits and impacts of individual proposals, including motorway widening, are assessed as part of the appraisal and decision taking process. The appraisal covers the expected impact on road safety, journey time and reliability, regeneration, accessibility, integration and the environment. Among the environmental impacts measured in the appraisal are the effects on the scheme on noise, local air quality, greenhouse gases, biodiversity, heritage, landscape and townscape. Full details are provided in the Department's Guidance on the Methodology for Multi-Modal Studies, available on the Department's website.