Integrated Transport Policy

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:31 pm on 20 July 1998.

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Photo of Hugh Bayley Hugh Bayley NATO Parliamentary Assembly UK Delegation 3:31, 20 July 1998

Is my right hon. Friend aware that acid particle emissions from motor vehicles have done more damage to York Minster and the other historic limestone buildings in York in the past 20 years than has been caused in the previous two centuries? Is he further aware that measures such as the park-and-ride schemes introduced by York city council, and its traffic-calming measures and pedestrian and cycle priority schemes, provide necessary alternatives to car use in York? Does he commend those schemes to other authorities?

My right hon. Friend will remember that, when the Conservatives were in power, they closed the York carriage works. Since the election, his transport policies have created a market for rail freight wagons, and a freight works has reopened in York. On Monday, the first freight vehicle will roll off the production line at the Thrall works in York. That shows that the markets, as well as transport specialists, approve of my right hon. Friend's policies.