§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many visits he has made to areas affected by the London assessment studies; whom he met; and on what dates the visits occurred.
§ Mr. AtkinsI have not yet had the opportunity to make any such visits.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of representations he has now received concerning the London assessment studies; what proportion of these are opposed to all road building; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Department has received many representations about all aspects of the studies. To identify the proportion opposed to all road building would involve disproportionate cost.
§ Sir Barney HayhoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will authorise his consultants for the west London assessment study to consider road pricing for London as a whole; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that account is taken of both generated and diverted traffic effects arising from other road schemes including the M25 and Westway in assessing new road options.
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§ Mr. AtkinsI refer my right hon. Friend to the reply he was given on 28 June at column474. The traffic models already take into account diverted traffic and an allowance will be made for generated traffic.
§ Sir Barney HayhoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether information concerning rail freight over Barnes bridge is available to his consultants for the west London assessment study.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe consultants for the west London assessment study have held numerous meetings with British Rail and have obtained information concerning use of the railway over Barnes bridge.
§ Sir Barney HayhoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have signed the petitions presented to him opposing options contained in the west London assessment study.
§ Mr. AtkinsI have received several petitions about the west London assessment study. It is not possible without disproportionate cost to identify how many individuals have signed one or more of them.
§ Sir Barney HayhoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are being made to take account of current transport studies including the central London rail study, the Heathrow and south west quadrant study and the Heathrow surface access study in the preparation of the west London assessment study.
§ Mr. AtkinsCo-ordination of the various studies is arranged by the Department's officials.
§ Sir Barney HayhoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what general arrangements are being made for public participation on stage 2B of the west London assessment study; what period is planned for t his consultation; which local organisations will be consulted; how the public will be involved; and under what terms the stage 2B report will be made available.
§ Mr. AtkinsAn announcement on the arrangements for public participation on stage 2B of the study will be made in due course.