Traffic Forecasts (Hansard, 22 June 1994)

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all past, current and proposed research commissioned or to be commissioned for or on behalf of the advisory panel on the review of the methodology of the traffic forecasts; and when he intends to publish this research.

§ Mr. Key
No research has been commissioned for, or on behalf of, the advisory group. The Department has in progress several pieces of research particularly relevant to traffic forecasting, listed in my answer to the earlier question of the hon. Member on 23 May at column53. The Department may consider letting more research on the advice of the group. No decision has yet been taken on the publication of this research.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations underlay his decision to include on the advisory panel for the review of traffic forecasts methodology representatives nominated by road lobby groups but not representatives nominated by environmental groups.

§ Mr. Key
The members of the advisory group were selected by the Department of Transport for the expertise that they could contribute to the forecasting process. As I said in my answer to an earlier question by the hon. Member on 23 May at column53, the members do not represent any interest or group.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the national road traffic forecasts will next be revised.

§ Mr. Key
The national road traffic forecasts are kept continuously under review, and will be revised if and when the need becomes apparent.