§ Sir George YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received any recent communication from the Association of London Authorities about the London assessment studies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI received yesterday afternoon a letter from the chair of the ALA Planning and Transport Committee, copies of which had been issued widely.
The letter appears to be based on a number of misconceptions about the nature and content of the consultants' reports and does not reflect the discussions which have been held with the boroughs in each of the four study areas.
The reports, copies of which are available in the Library, contain a wide range of options including better management of existing facilities and major investment in public transport as well as road investment—which the letter greatly exaggerates.
779WI discussed the term of reference for this stage of the studies with the chair of the ALA Planning and Transport Committee last year and offered to meet him at any time if he was concerned at the way the studies were being conducted.
I am writing to him again to renew my invitation so that we can clear up any misconceptions about the studies and the way they are to be continued.
§ Sir George YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations have been held with the boroughs and associations involved in the London assessment studies about the consultant's progress reports.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Department of Transport has chaired fruitful meetings with the authorities and the consultants involved in each of the four studies to discuss the consultants reports which were circulated beforehand.
The Department also meets the LBA, ALA and others concerned on a regular basis to discuss topics common to all four studies. The most recent meeting was held yesterday.