Oral Answers to Questions

Clive Efford Excerpts

Thursday 12th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab)]

13. Whether he plans to make road network national policy statements compatible with the UK’s commitments on climate change.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Rachel Maclean)]

We take our commitment to climate targets seriously. We have one of the world’s most ambitious plans for reducing carbon emissions from our roads, and our infrastructure policy is entirely consistent with that.

[Clive Efford]

Does not the decision on Heathrow demonstrate that the Government need to upgrade their statements in the light of climate change, otherwise there is a danger that their massive expansion of road building will get bogged down in legal challenges?

[Rachel Maclean]

As the hon. Gentleman will know, the Court of Appeal judgment on Heathrow is a very complex issue. Our road policy contains many elements, including a plan for decarbonisation, funding to improve public transport and plans for road improvements. That balanced package is entirely consistent with reaching net zero, which is what the Government are committed to doing.