HL Deb 23 October 2002 vol 639 cc105-6WA
Lord Roberts of Conwy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they agree with the findings of recent research carried out by Trafficmaster, the traffic monitoring company, that congestion has more than doubled on several key sections of the motorway network in the last five years. [HL5946]

The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)

A preliminary investigation by the Highways Agency suggests that the results are statistically unrepresentative of underlying congestion trends. That is because it appears that the results have been skewed by short-term effects such as roadworks.

The department's 2001 Trunk Road Speeds Survey shows that average speeds were 2.6 mph faster in 2001 in the morning peak period when compared to the equivalent speed in the 1998 survey. In the evening peak, they were 2.2 mph faster. This suggests that overall across trunk troads and motorways congestion has been falling, not rising.

Lord Roberts of Conwy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they propose to take to relieve congestion on the United Kingdom motorway network; and whether they will list schemes designed for this purpose by title and proposed dates of commencement and completion. [HL5947]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

There are currently five schemes in the Highways Agency's targeted programme of improvements designed to address problems of congestion on the motorway network. The Highways Agency is also developing a programme of lower cost schemes to address local problems. I have arranged for a list of these schemes to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses with an indication of the expected timescales for delivery.

Further schemes may be added to the targeted programme of improvements which will address congestion on the motorway network in the light of recommendations from the ongoing programme of multi-modal studies. These studies were commissioned in order to look at some of the most serious congestion problems on the strategic road network and to identify the contribution that all transport modes might make to providing sustainable solutions. The Highways Agency has been closely involved in the studies; and the Government agreed last year that it could carry out parallel appraisal and validation work on any road schemes likely to be recommended by the studies. This should reduce the time required for schemes to enter the TPI once the Secretary of State has announced his conclusions on each of the study findings.

The multi-modal study programme is now well advanced. The studies report initially to the appropriate regional planning body. The Secretary of State for Transport will consider study recommendations in the light of their advice. I am also arranging for a list of the studies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.