To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made a quantifiable assessment of the increase in road traffic likely to result from the improved road conditions arising from the Government's road building programme; and if he will make a statement.

Increased traffic demand is primarily a function of economic growth rather than road building. Given an established road network, the total amount of traffic growth is unlikely to be influenced measurably by road improvements. However, there will be redistribution effects as traffic transfers to the improved routes from other, less suitable roads.