§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent he estimates the Mayor of London's proposals for congestion charging will contribute to the delivery of the public services agreement targets to reduce congestion in large urban areas in England. [71627]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 19 July 2002]: My Department's forecasting work for the 10-year plan assumed that a central London road user charging scheme would be introduced as part of the plan. The impact of individual schemes was not assessed.
While congestion reduction benefits of road user charging schemes may be significant at the local level in specific urban centres, they are likely to be small within the context of total traffic volumes, and hence the national congestion target, in England as a whole.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to take forward his responsibility for delivering the Public Services Agreement to reduce congestion in London to below 2000 levels by 2010. [71628]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 19 July 2002]: The Public Service Agreement target relates to large urban areas, including London. The Mayor of London's Transport Strategy and Transport for London's Business Plan set out measures which are designed to tackle congestion. We shall monitor the delivery of them and their impact on congestion and from time to time we shall review the situation with the Mayor.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of a 15 per cent. reduction in traffic congestion across London, as given in the 10-year plan; [71320]
(2) what the benchmark is against which he will judge the 10-year plan target of 15 per cent. reduction in traffic congestion across London; and what the subsequent performance statistics relating to this target are. [71319]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 19 July 2002]: There is a Public Service Agreement target to reduce road congestion in large urban areas below 2000 levels by 2010. The 10-year plan listed the 15 per cent. reduction in traffic congestion across London among a number of possible outcomes for transport in London which could be delivered over the life of the plan, but the plan made it clear that the Mayor was responsible for specific priorities. The Mayor's Transport Strategy and Transport for London's Business Plan indicate these priorities. We shall monitor the delivery of them and their impact on congestion and from time to time we shall review the situation with the Mayor.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the next surveys relating to the level of congestion on the inter-urban trunk road network and in large urban areas. [71565]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 19 July 2002]: We hope to publish the year 2000 baseline for congestion in the autumn.
1256W
§ Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to restrict the power of the Mayor of London to introduce congestion charging. [72953]
§ Mr. SpellarNo. Parliament has given powers to the Mayor in the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to decide whether or not to introduce congestion charging.