HC Deb 12 March 2002 vol 381 c917W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what work his Department has done to assess the impact on the targets in the 10-year plan if local authorities fail to implement congestion charging schemes as outlined in the plan. [41657]

Mr. Jamieson

Modelling by the Department of the results of implementing the 10-year plan, but omitting the eight road user charging and 12 workplace parking levy schemes that the plan assumed local authorities would introduce outside London, shows that congestion would reduce to 5 per cent. below 2000 levels, compared with a 6 per cent. reduction if the assumptions in the plan are met

A number of local authorities are actively examining possible schemes. Whether they go ahead will be a matter for them, taking into account local factors. We would, in any case, expect most schemes to come forward towards the end of the 10-year plan period.

The assumptions in the 10-year plan will be reviewed as part of the first review of the plan. We will publish the results later this year.