§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "Managing the Trunk Road Programme". [8661]
§ Mr. WattsThe environmental impacts of each scheme in the national roads programme are assessed carefully and considered before a decision is taken to proceed.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if "Managing the Trunk Road Programme" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by the Department of the Environment;, and if he will publish the appraisal; [8658]
(2) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in "Managing the Trunk Road Programme" were considered in any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [8659]
(3) how "Managing the Trunk Road Programme" was modified by the results of any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [8660]
§ Mr. WattsThe 1995 review involved a re-assessment of priorities within the roads programme rather than the adoption of a new policy. Each scheme's likely effects on the environment were taken into account during the400W review. A number of schemes were withdrawn because they could not achieve an acceptable environmental balance.