Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of new river crossings in East London on the economy of that area.

Under devolution, East London river crossings are primarily a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London. In designating the Silvertown Tunnel as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, this Government has recognised the importance of river-crossing infrastructure to the effective functioning of the strategic road network, and the continued successful development of East London's economy.

The Government has made no assessment of new river crossings on the economy of East London. However, Transport for London has published information to support a consultation currently underway on the Silvertown Tunnel, which sets out the value of that scheme to the local economy. The recently concluded consultation on options for new crossings further east included a similar assessment. Both can be found on Transport for London’s consultation website: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/