Written question asked by Lord Garnier (Conservative) on Thursday, 24 April 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 April 2008. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 May 2008 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Asphalt

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the level of carbon dioxide emissions per metric tonne of road-quality asphalt from (a) all stages of its manufacture for use on roads and (b) the process of laying onto road surfaces in the latest period for which figures are available; and what assumptions are made in each calculation.

Answer: No specific estimate has been made of the levels of carbon dioxide emissions associated with the asphalt used for roads. The Highways Agency is developing a whole life value assessment tool for highway pavements which will include carbon dioxide emission calculations. It plans to implement this tool as part of its Sustainable Development Action Plan. We have asked the UK Roads Liaison Group to consider what further research and advice will be helpful to local authorities.

Secondary information