§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Transport what specific responsibilities are laid upon the liaison officer of the Eastern Road Construction Unit to establish contacts and working relations with community or voluntary groups interested in published proposals for roads and motorways in addition to contact with interested individuals; on what grounds the liaison officer may decide not to treat with community or voluntary groups who express such interest; and how many times in each of the past four years he has so decided and with which groups.
§ Mr. HoramLiaison officers have for the last year been appointed by the Department's eastern road construction unit to assist individuals whose property may be affected by particular schemes. They are not expected to treat with representative groups; these normally deal direct with the unit's headquarters. Apart from the committee mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr.Dodsworth) on 31 January—[Vol. 961, c. 479]—which also details the responsibilities of liaison officers, there is no record of any contacts with groups being requested.