Rodgers' beliefs
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TRANSPORT Minister William Rodgers is a firm believer In value for money, he told an international symposium in London this week.
"This is stressed in the White Paper," he added.
Mr Rodgers was opening the seventh international symposium of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport on Theory and Practice in Transport at the Imperial College.
More than 350 international transport experts from 23 countries and from Governmental and non-Governmental organisations concerned with transport attended.
And the British Minister told them: "Policy decisions in transport must be based on sound economic advice.
"We must, of course, always take account of political and practical constraints and these can on occasions get in the way of the right economic solution.
"But I am a firm believer in • "value for money". This is stressed in the UK Government's recent White Paper on Transport Policy.
"We must, however, also ensure that our policies are designed to meet social needs, that they minimise the harmful effects on the environment, and that, in taking decisions, there should be a more systematic and open involvement of all the people concerned.
"But efficiency and value for money is a key requirement, and that is where economic advice is most useful".
It is of particular value because no policy decisions are taken and delegates can speak in their own right, without committing any national delegation.