§ Mr. SumbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has completed his review of road scheme assessment criteria to ensure that appropriate weight is given to leisure traffic; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyYes. The result of the review is contained in a report "Tourism, Leisure and Roads" published on 15 October. Copies have been placed in the Library.
The main conclusion to emerge is that the assessment framework approach adopted on motorway and other 253W trunk road improvement schemes brings together, in a comprehensive fashion, all the matters relevant in reaching decisions on these schemes. These include the special characteristics relating to the tourism and leisure industry. Recent increases in the value of leisure time will improve the case for schemes which serve tourist and leisure traffic.
The tourism industry can and should press its case for improvements in trunk and other roads by participating activity in the public consultation procedures included in the road planning process.