§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference of the recent Transport and Road Research Laboratory contract with the University of Surrey into public participation in highway planning, the reasons for the study, the origin of the request for it, and its cost.
§ Mr. CarmichaelThe University of Surrey is carrying out two studies, one to determine the part played by pressure groups in public participation, the other to evaluate methods of communicating information on road proposals to the public. The cost of the first is£9,060 and of the second£ 19,500. The work was commissioned by the Department as part of a general programme of research into the effectiveness of current public participation procedures.