§ Mr. Altonasked the Minister of Transport why the South-West road construction unit failed to comply with directives H6/74 and H3/75 when proposing the Hayle bypass.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe proposal for a duel carriageway Hayle bypass as part of the Polstrong/St. Erth Diversion of trunk road A30, Cornwall, published in draft orders under the Highways Acts 1959 to 1971 in May 1975, took account of the advice given in technical memoranda H6/74 and H3/75 and were based532W on traffic data, estimated costs and so on available at that time. The application of these memoranda to the proposals was debated at the public inquiry held in December 1975.
§ Mr. Altonasked the Minister of Transport why the Hayle bypass proposal, when subjected to independent scrutiny by objectors at the public inquiry, showed a loss of £650,000 on a discounted construction cost of £4.9 million; and whether he will order all such proposals in future to be subjected to independent audit at Government expense.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt was the Department's own calculations, using the then standard method of assessment and in 1975 traffic data, that showed a net present value of £644,719 and present value cost of £4,900,229. This information was made available to objectors on request as soon as it came to hand immediately before the inquiry, at which it was discussed. With regard to independent audit, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 8 November.—[Vol. 973, c. 273–4.]