HC Deb 22 May 2003 vol 405 c946W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the level of congestion was in large urban areas in(a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002. [114898]

Mr. Jamieson

Congestion in large urban areas can be measured in a number of different ways. One option, used in the Department's Ten Year Plan, is to take the difference between actual average speeds and speeds achievable in the absence of congestion, estimated by measuring night time speeds. Full details of the methodology are available on the DfT website.

The estimated level of congestion in large urban areas in England, measured in this way, was 24.8 seconds per vehicle kilometre in 2000 and 24.9 in 2002.