To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 17 October 2006, Official Report, column 1136W, on motorways, when he expects to extend active traffic management and hard shoulder running to other motorways and trunk roads. (97217)

Initial indications from the current hard shoulder trial on the M42 near Birmingham are encouraging. However, further evidence from the trial will be needed to assess the overall impact on journey times, motorway capacity and safety.

The Highways Agency will continue to evaluate the evidence as the trial progresses to develop its understanding of the possible application of active traffic management—including hard shoulder running—elsewhere on the motorway and trunk road network. If the trial results prove positive we will want to implement the techniques at other locations as soon as practical.