HC Deb 21 May 2002 vol 386 cc212-4W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, (1) pursuant to his answer of 30 April 2002,Official Report, column 675W, on infrastructure charging research, if he will publish figures for the cost of research commissioned by his Department, or the DETR, in each year since 1997; if he will publish the estimated cost for the forthcoming year; and if he will publish a summary of the work so far on (a) user acceptance, (b) social-spatial inclusion and exclusion, (c) trade-off between practical and optimal cordon congestion charging and (d) economic geography of congestion charging; [55263]

(2) pursuant to his answer of 30 April 2002, Official Report, column 675W, on infrastructure charging research, when the commissioned work will terminate; and what the estimated cost of such research is up to the termination date; [55265]

£000
Actual annual spend Forecast spend
Project title 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Totals End
Demonstration of Interoperable Charging and Telematics Systems 2,600 7,000 9,000 3,400 22,000 December 2004
Dynamic Freight Analysis 11 32 12 55 April 2004
Economic Geography of Congestion Charging 12 13 16 4 45 December 2003
Trade-off between practical and optimal cordon congestion charging 6 5 6 17 December 2003
Charging Appraisal Frameworks 7 10 19 14 7 57 December 2004
Scheme Design and User Acceptance 8 16 10 18 52 December 2002
Measuring the impacts of road user charging and the workplace parking levy on social-spatial inclusion and exclusion 4 9 116 129 March 2003

The research project summaries requested by the hon. Member are:

Scheme Design and User Acceptance

The research seeks to help local authorities select the most appropriate form of road user charging scheme for an urban area, taking into account local economic, social and environmental circumstances. To do this an "options decision matrix" has been developed; its practical validity will be assessed by applying it to a number of case study areas.

Measuring the impacts of road user charging and the workplace parking levy on social-spatial inclusion and exclusion

This work looks at the effects of road user charging and the work place parking levy on social inclusion and social exclusion, both generally and in terms of gender, ethnicity, and age. It includes contracts with the universities of Oxford and Lancaster worth a total of £116,000. The aim of the research is to provide material and advice which will assist local authorities in assessing the possible social impact of particular congestion charging scheme options.

Trade-off between practical and optimal cordon congestion charging

The research examines the balance between congestion reduction and public acceptance of cordon charging schemes. It partly involves formulating a mathematical representation of an urban charging cordon. However, it seeks to ensure that the model has practical relevance by incorporating the results of a survey of six UK local authorities. This survey looks at the design of charging cordons and their objectives and effects, and public response to them. The overall aim is to assist local authorities in the design of such schemes.

Economic Geography of Congestion Charging

The project is examining the possible links between congestion charging and the long-term use and development of land. It is assessing the effects on a case study area of various different assumptions about

(3) if he will make a statement on the assessment he has made of the effect of congestion charging on social-spatial inclusion and exclusion. [55264]

Mr. Byers

The annual spend, total spend and likely termination date for the projects listed in the answer of 30 April 2002,Official Report, column 675W is given in the following table:

charging, the use of the charging revenues, and other forms of traffic restraint. Here too, the aim is to help local authorities assess the implications of possible congestion charging schemes.