§ Mrs. ShephardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what discussions (i) Ministers and (ii) officials have had, concerning the possibility of taxes or charges on car parking spaces at out-of-town shopping centres with(a) Tesco and (b) partners or employees of the firm Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement; [50157]
19W(2) if he will list the occasions upon which ministers and officials have had contact with Tesco plc or their representatives or advisers. [50159]
§ Mr. PrescottI refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) of 10 July 1998,Official Report, column 649.
We have carried out an extensive consultation as part of the fundamental review of transport policy. In addition, my Ministers and I have met with a large number of individuals and organisations and have attended a number of seminars to discuss a wide range of transport issues. The discussions and the written representations we received have played an important role in informing the development of our integrated transport policy.