§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effects of road charging. [122002]
§ Dr. HowellsAs both the London and Durham schemes have shown, charging can play a role in the management of local congestion. The effects of congestion charging depend upon the design of a scheme, which is a matter for individual local authorities. I have made no assessment of the cumulative effects of such schemes on congestion across the country.