§ Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what importance he attaches to the needs of tourism in his plans to improve England's road network. [58579]
§ Mr. JamiesonIndividual road improvement schemes are subject to the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA), introduced in 1998. NATA takes account of the expected impact of a proposed scheme on the environment, safety, the economy, accessibility and integration. The assessment includes an appraisal of the extent to which a proposed scheme may help the regeneration of an area. The time savings and reductions in vehicle operating costs for tourists (including coaches) are included in the overall appraisal of the benefits of a proposed road scheme.