HC Deb 07 February 1990 vol 166 cc648-9W
Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy, after selecting the preferred option in stage 2B of the London assessment studies, to provide the resources necessary to implement all components of the proposals, including the public transport and traffic calming and management elements.

Mr. Atkins

I cannot anticipate decisions on what schemes will be taken forward or what priority they will have.

Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will undertake a programme of publicity and public meetings on the proposals contained in stage 2B of the London assessment studies and its document, "Traffic in London"; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

A full public consultation programme is already under way. Some 2,900 copies of the London assessment studies reports, and 180,000 copies of summaries of the consultants work, with leaflets giving the Department's initial views, have been printed; 4,500 copies of the "Traffic in London" discussion document have been issued.

Displays of the assessment studies options have been mounted in public libraries and at other locations throughout the study areas. Arrangements have been made for Department of Transport officials to attend over 20 public meetings arranged by boroughs to explain the study options and the Department's initial views. The officials will answer questions about the "Traffic in London" initiatives.

Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department took to ensure consistency in the level and detail of information its consultants have released on the proposals contained in stage 2B of the London assessment studies.

Mr. Atkins

The Department has sought to ensure consistency by arranging for discussions between the consultants.

Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make it his policy that, before reaching a final decision on stage 2B of the London assessment studies and the introduction of the priority route network proposals, their combined impact on traffic and movement in the capital will be assessed using the LTS model and that the results will be published.

Mr. Atkins

We are proposing a pilot scheme which will assess the effectiveness of priority routes. We are also consulting local authorities and others on the composition of the network. It will not be possible to estimate the overall effects of the network until this work is completed. Any schemes adopted following the assessment studies will be subject to further detailed appraisal.

Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he will undertake and publish a detailed analysis of the environmental impact of the proposals contained in stage 2B of the London assessment studies and his Department's document "Traffic in London";

(2) whether, before reaching a final decision on stage 2B of the London assessment studies, and the introduction of the priority route network proposals outlined in "Traffic in London", they will be assessed in the context of the Pearce report on sustainable development.

Mr. Atkins

A full and detailed analysis of the environmental impact of the assessment study options is contained in the consultants' stage 2 reports published on 14 December. The Pearce report findings will be taken into account along with all relevant factors when decisions are taken on what proposals, if any, should be taken forward.