Carbon Dioxide Emissions

HC Deb 23 March 1990 vol 169 cc775-6W

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made an assessment of the effect on carbon dioxide emissions of each pound spent on(a) road building programmes and (b) rail investment; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

No, because so many uncertain factors are involved.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 February,Official Report, column 430, what assessment he has made of the size of the road building programme which would give maximum reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from vehicular transport.

Mr. Atkins

Many considerations—economic arid environmental—are taken into account when prospective road schemes are assessed. It is not possible to devise a programme which is solely devoted to reducing CO₂ emissions.