§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will consider setting targets for traffic flow reductions(a) within urban areas and (b) on inter-urban roads; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will list the initiatives he is assessing to reduce traffic flows and the use of private vehicles; and if he will set targets for each initiative.
§ Mr. KeyThe Government set no targets for reducing traffic flows: it is for individuals and businesses to decide where and how to travel. Nevertheless, the Government do have a responsibility to ensure that, collectively, individual decisions do not have unacceptable consequences for the environment.
Policies aimed at reducing congestion and the environmental impacts of traffic include:
- —measures to reduce harmful emissions from vehicles (particularly through requiring 3-way catalytic converters to be fitted to new cars);
- —the annual increases in fuel duty announced in the March budget;
- —the programme of research into road pricing in London;
- —high levels of investment in public transport;
- —assistance for local authorities in introducing traffic calming measures;
- —assistance for local authorities in developing strategies for urban areas, supported by investment in all forms of transport;
- —the recently issued draft planning policy guidance note (PPG 13) on reducing the need to travel;
- —investment in bypasses, included in the current roads programme.