§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research his Department has conducted into changes in pollution following the implementation of congestion taxes. [810]
§ Ms KeebleMy Department will be working with local authorities when they develop and implement schemes, to carry out before and after studies to assess schemes' impacts, including changes in levels of air pollution. Modelling work for the Government's 10-Year Plan for Transport published in July 2000 forecasts significant reductions in particulate and oxide of nitrogen emissions by 2010 from a range of measures in the plan, including the introduction of urban congestion charging in a number of towns and cities.