HC Deb 17 February 1988 vol 127 cc614-5W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has concerning the M25 in respect of(a) the number and distribution of major delays, (b) the causes of major delays, (c) the numbers, locations and causes of major accidents, (d) the times, places and degree of any excess of demand over effective road capacity and (e) hourly peak and minimum flows, expressed in passenger car units, in the most heavily and least used sections.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The information is not available in the form requested. The M25 is congested at certain times on some sections. Work has started to enable a fourth lane to be added to both carriageways between junctions 11 and 13. A study has been commissioned into the best way of adding a fourth lane between junctions 15 and 16.

We have recently invited proposals from consultants for a study of traffic patterns on the whole motorway which was announced in last year's roads White Paper. It will identify existing and potential problem areas and their causes, and suggest solutions. M25 traffic flows were set out in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 9 November 1987, Official Report, columns 79–80.