§ Mr. WarrenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the use of the London area model developed by his Department's transport and road research laboratory as a means of easing traffic congestion in London.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe transport and road research laboratory's experimental London area model (LAM) was designed to assist in the analysis of strategic policy options. The London planning advisory committee (LPAC) commissioned consultants to test four transport options using the model.
The base scenario portrayed in the report by the LPAC's consultants did not represent current Government policies. The conclusion drawn were not a realistic assessment of the likely outcome. The base against which other policies are compared are ill-founded. The options described in the LPAC scenarios have included the impact of selective road improvements, stricter parking controls, selective radial rail improvements and new RER-style railways. None were suitable for testing using LAM.
The sensitivity testing work was commissioned by the LPAC. The Department received a copy of the report in late January. It is for the LPAC to publish the results if they so wish.
The Department commissioned an audit by consultants, the results of which were received last spring. These identified deficiencies with the LAM including its representation of road and rail capacity levels; and inadequate representation of peak demands; and an inability to reproduce travel patterns experienced in recent years—particularly the growth in travel demand which has taken place since travelcards were introduced.
It was decided to withdraw the model from further use. I will be placing a copy of the consultant's audit report in the Library.
54WThe model does not provide measures to ease traffic congestion.