asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the potential impact of electric personal assistive mobility devices on their road traffic congestion targets; and [HL2925]

What assessment they have made of the potential impact of electric personal assistive mobility devices on their carbon emission targets; and [HL2926]

What legislation would need to be amended to permit electric personal assistive mobility devices on the public highways or on pedestrian or cycle facilities in the United Kingdom. [HL2928]

If, as we understand, such devices are likely to be used mainly as an alternative to walking or cycling then their potential in terms both of congestion relief and of carbon emission reduction is likely to be minimal.

No detailed assessment of legislative requirements has been made but primary legislation would need to be amended to permit their use on public footpaths, on the pedestrian footway alongside roads or on cycle tracks. The legislation which would need to be amended includes the Highway Act 1835, Highways Act 1980, Cycle Tracks Act 1984, the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, but other legislation may also need to be amended.

There is provision in Section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 that would allow the Secretary of State for Transport to permit by way of an order their use on the vehicular part of the public highway. The Secretary of State has no plans to make such an order.