§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the consultants' report on the London corridor assessment studies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThese reports are being published today. They analyse the problems in the four areas concerned on the basis of extensive traffic surveys and public consultation. They provide for the first time a full and factual picture as a basis for looking at long-term measures to improve conditions.
Copies of the full reports and their technical appendices are being sent to boroughs and to libraries in the study areas. They are also available for purchase from the Department. Since these are bulky documents, we are also making available free leaflets setting out the main findings from each of the reports.
The work disussed in these reports represents the first stage in addressing long-term issues in these major traffic corridors. We shall he consulting boroughs about the terms of reference for the next stage with a view to starting that phase of work in the early summer. We aim to find the solutions that meet Londoners' needs up to the end of the century and beyond whilst making sense in terms of requirements today. I shall be asking the boroughs concerned to co-operate with us in this work.
Copies of the reports are being placed in the Library.