§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the measures he has taken to reduce congestion on the roads.
§ Mr. AtkinsLast year we announced in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" a doubling of the trunk road544W programme. Our proposals to add some 2,700 miles of new or improved road to the trunk road network will make a significant impact on congestion on major inter-urban routes. Plans for over 150 bypasses will remove through traffic from towns and villages. In city centres better traffic management measures, parking controls and improvements to public transport, including the development of new facilities such as light rail systems will contribute towards reducing congestion.
Full details of the trunk road programme are contained in the roads report "Trunk Roads, England—Into the 1990s", published on 20 February. Copies have been placed in the Library.