§ Mr. AdleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account his Department takes in determining its transport investment priorities of the comparative safety risks associated with(a) road and (b) rail travel.
§ Mr. FreemanInvestment appraisal on roads is carried out using a well-established set of values for casualty reductions. The increased funding for local safety schemes indicates the high priority which is given to proven cost-effective measures for reducing road casualties.
All railway investment includes the cost of meeting relevant safety standards. Where alternative road and rail schemes are compared the safety benefits of any transfers from road to rail are taken into account in assessing the case for grant support.