§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish an inquiry into the continuing need for those bus lanes instituted by the former greater London Council in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster on roads for which he is now responsible.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyNo. The City of Westminster became responsible for this road on 1 April 1986. It commissioned studies into the effect of the then experimental bus lanes. It concluded that they were beneficial. After due consultation it decided that the bus lanes should be made permanent. It applied to the Secretary of State for approval under paragraph 5 of schedule 5 to the Local Government Act 1985 because the route is a designated road. The Secretary of State considered that there was no adverse effect on the movement of traffic on the designated road network and approved the proposal.