HC Deb 11 March 1996 vol 273 c471W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of Transport if he will publish the result of the environmental appraisal conducted under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" published by the Department of the Environment on the forthcoming transport policies and programmes circular 1997–98. [19547]

Mr. Norris

The transport policies and programme circular contains guidance to local authorities on their annual TPP submissions, and is not in itself susceptible to environmental appraisal. Environmental considerations play a large part in the development of the Government's local transport policies. For example, we have introduced the package approach to local transport investment, which encourages local authorities to develop alternatives to road building and discourages use of the private car where effective alternatives exist.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the result of the environmental appraisal conducted under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" published by the Department of the Environment on the forthcoming transport policy paper. [19548]

Mr. Norris

The Government have not yet published their report drawing together the threads of the national debate on transport, so it would be premature to discuss the report's contents.