§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with reducing road congestion. [185420]
§ Mr. JamiesonSignificant progress has been made putting measures in place to tackle congestion. 100 road schemes have been completed since 2000, 22 of these delivered since June 2002. This includes the M6 Toll, which opened in December 2003. A further 12 strategic road schemes are currently under construction, including widening of the M25 between Junctions 12 to 15 around Heathrow. The London congestion charge has delivered significant benefits. Traffic Officers are already being deployed on the motorway network starting in the West Midlands, to improve the clearing of incidents, and new technologies are being introduced to help improve traffic flow. The Traffic Management Act gives new powers to the Traffic Officers, and to local authorities to improve the management of local roads.