asked Her Majesty's Government:

What studies have been undertaken, or are planned, to assess the impact of smarter choices initiatives on economic productivity and on people's health. [HL126]

Smarter choices measures include travel planning, public transport information and marketing, travel awareness campaigns, car clubs and car-sharing schemes, teleworking, teleconferencing and home shopping. They can reduce environmental impacts, improve health and reduce congestion. However, reducing congestion in turn improves economic productivity and health.

The links between smarter choices and people’s decisions to travel by car or public transport or to walk or cycle were explored in depth in Smarter Choices, Changing the Way We Travel (2004). Further information is available, including the mid-term results for the sustainable travel towns and best practice guidance on workplace, personal, residential and school travel planning.

The links between congestion and productivity were discussed in detail in the Eddington study. The links between choice of transport mode and health are captured through valuing the health benefits of additional exercise and of lower air pollution. Various studies contribute to this. Part of the new approach to transport appraisal (NATA) covers guidance on walking and cycling schemes and the health benefits that can accrue from these. There is also a physical fitness element in the guidance, which looks at fitness benefits from switching to walking and cycling.

Further, as part of the recently announced NATA refresh exercise (a year-long consultative change process) and in light of a new World Health Organisation (WHO) methodology into valuing health benefits, we are looking into strengthening these parts of our guidance. Cycling England also plans, in due course, to publish figures on the health benefits of cycling.

In addition, the National Business Travel Network has initiated work to examine:

the impact of companies’ implementation of smarter choices measures on staff recruitment and retention;

the economic case for the implementation of smarter choices measures by companies; and

how travel plans might be mainstreamed within the UK.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What budget has been allocated within the Department for Transport’s programme for 2008-09 to 2010-11 for investment in travel planning and smarter choices initiatives, following the recent Comprehensive Spending Review. [HL127]

The funding for travel planning and smarter choices initiatives will be finalised in the context of the Department for Transport’s Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 settlement announced on 9 October. Final decisions on internal allocations have not yet been made. As set out in Towards a Sustainable Transport System, we intend to publish more detailed plans shortly. We will publish a breakdown of the department’s spending plans in the department’s annual report.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What plans they have with reference to their smarter choices transport initiative to monitor the quality of travel plans and to improve the quality of travel plans in the future. [HL190]

Local authority-based school travel advisers work with schools to ensure that the plans that schools develop meet the national minimum standard for school travel plans.

To ensure that the standard is met, school travel plans that are of the highest quality receive a capital grant from the Department for Children, Schools and Families. More than 14,000 schools in England now have a travel plan that meets this standard. Regional school travel advisers quality-assure a proportion of the plans submitted for consideration of a grant by each local authority.

The Government have stated in planning policy guidance note 13 (PPG13) on transport that travel plans should accompany a planning application (in terms of both floorspace thresholds and where there are significant transport implications). In this way, travel plans are being introduced via the planning process both for new developments and where workplaces seek to expand. The planning approval process provides a means to ensure ongoing monitoring and quality assurance for these travel plans.

We have also published best practice guidance on travel planning:

Using Planning Guidance to Secure Travel Plans—2002 (update to be published winter 2007-08);

Travelling to School: A Good Practice Guide—2003;

Smarter Choices: Changing the Way We Travel—2004;

Making Smarter Choices Work—2004;

Making Car Sharing and Car Clubs Work—2005;

Making Residential Travel Plans Work—2005;

Making “In Town Without My Car!” Work—2006;

Essential Guide to Travel Planning—2007; and

Making Personal Travel Planning Work (research report)—2007.

Local authorities and scheme promoters have to use departmental guidance on transport appraisal if they require funding from the Department for Transport for major schemes. This guidance is known as the new approach to transport appraisal (NATA). Part of NATA covers guidance on walking and cycling schemes and the health benefits that can accrue from these. There is also a physical fitness element in the guidance, which looks at fitness benefits from switching to walking and cycling. As part of the recently announced NATA refresh exercise (a year-long consultative change process) and in light of a new World Health Organisation (WHO) methodology into valuing health benefits, we are looking into strengthening these parts of our guidance.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What measures are being taken to integrate travel planning and smarter choices initiatives into all mainstream transport policies; and [HL191]

What steps are being taken to ensure that all local authorities are required to adopt the recommendations of the Department for Transport’s smarter choices report. [HL192]

Smarter choices, including travel plans, are a mainstream transport policy.

Towards a Sustainable Transport System clearly establishes the Government’s intention to consider smarter choices in all elements of transport policy. The framework further develops the positive role for sustainable travel measures that the Government set out in The Future of Transport.

Central and local government have agreed that local authorities will focus on delivering a smaller set of key outcomes than previously, reflecting the shared priorities agreed between central and local government. These are: improving access to jobs and services, particularly for those most in need, in ways that are sustainable; improved public transport; and reduced problems of congestion, pollution and safety. Smarter choices contribute to many of these objectives.

The Government’s recently published New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships, which provides a single set of national indicators, takes account of this. These will be used in local area agreements. Smarter choices are one way in which local authorities can address local area agreement indicators for climate change, air quality, obesity and congestion.

The assessment of the second round of local transport plans included consideration of their inclusion of smarter choices measures.