§ Mr. Altonasked the Minister of Transport whether the geological strata of the Swanley-Sevenoaks section of the M25 have posed particularly difficult problems; whether the geological investigation was carried out after the publication of the draft schemes and orders; and what bearing this has on the validity of the cost benefit analysis presented at the inquiry.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIn accordance with the Department's normal practice, preliminary geological investigations were undertaken in the general corridor of the route before publication of the draft schemes and orders; some additional work was carried out after publication. As the points raised by the hon. Member were discussed at the recent public inquiry I am unable to comment further until the inspector's report has been received and a decision announced by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Transport and the Secretary of State for the Environment.