asked Her Majesty's Government:

What guidance they are giving to local authorities on the priority to give to low-carbon travel in their local transport plans. [HL4666]

The development of low-carbon travel is an increasingly important theme to be addressed in the implementation of local transport plans (LTPs). Guidance published in December 2004 on the second round of LTPs, which runs from 2006-07 to 2010-11, encouraged local highways authorities to take account of the 2003 energy White Paper, Our Energy Future—Creating a Low Carbon Economy. Since the publication of the guidance, a range of further research, advice and funding has been made available to assist authorities, particularly as they seek to encourage behaviour change. For example, on 19 June we announced a £100 million investment package to pioneer innovative ways to increase cycling. Addressing climate change has also been identified as one of five key goals for the Department for Transport in Towards a Sustainable Transport System, published in October 2007.

The Local Transport Bill currently under consideration includes a new duty on local authorities to have regard to the protection or improvement of the environment in developing and implementing policies to be included in local transport plans. We expect to publish draft guidance on future plans towards the end of the year.