Transport written statement – made at on 28 April 2009.
Geoff Hoon
Secretary of State, Department for Transport
I have today published a summary of the responses received to the Government's consultation on "Delivering a Sustainable Transport System: Consultation on Planning for 2014 and Beyond". Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and are available on the Department's website (www.dft.gsi.gov.uk).
There were over 500 responses to the consultation. The great Majority supported economic growth and tackling climate change as the most important challenges, with over half identifying climate change as the single most important challenge to be addressed. There was also support for the approach to decision-making we proposed.
The Government have given careful consideration to the issues raised by stakeholders, and the document I have published today summarises how we intend to take them into account when developing packages of transport measures.
The term "majority" is used in two ways in Parliament. Firstly a Government cannot operate effectively unless it can command a majority in the House of Commons - a majority means winning more than 50% of the votes in a division. Should a Government fail to hold the confidence of the House, it has to hold a General Election. Secondly the term can also be used in an election, where it refers to the margin which the candidate with the most votes has over the candidate coming second. To win a seat a candidate need only have a majority of 1.
