HC Deb 12 March 2003 vol 401 c252W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the reports on climate change published by(a) the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and (b) the UK Climate Impacts Programme on the transport sector; [102197]

(2) what studies his Department has carried out into the effect of climate change on railway infrastructure; [102195]

(3) if he will make a statement on the likely impact of future climate change upon the transport sector; [102194]

(4) if he will place copies of reports published from research funded by his Department on the effects of climate change on (a) railways, (b) roads, (c) aviation and (d) other transport in the Library. [102196]

Mr. Jamieson

I welcome the report and joint research initiative, "Building Knowledge for a Changing Climate", launched this month by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the UK Climate Impacts Programme, and the active role of the Highways Agency in supporting the initiative. I shall be interested in the results.

My Department will be undertaking work this year, involving stakeholders, to advance our understanding of the potential implications of climate change for transport policy and operations. A report on this work and the results of any research in this area commissioned by the Department will be published.