§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what impact his proposals for road improvement will have on inner-city congestion; and what consultation he has had with local authorities about his planned road building programme.
§ Mr. Atkins[holding answer 8 January 1990]: The schemes in the Government's trunk road programme are designed to deal selectively with forecast levels of demand and congestion mostly on the inter-urban network, where recent traffic growth has been highest. Inner-city roads are by and large the responsibility of local highway authorities, with which the Department maintains regular contacts.
Schemes in the trunk road programme will benefit inner-city areas by relieving traffic congestion and making them more attractive places for people to live and work.