§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport what factors were considered in his decision not to make the extra 65 miles of London roads, proposed to be trunked, the responsibility of the appropriate borough councils as with designated roads.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI will answer this question shortly.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many posts are to be filled following his Department's advertisement in the New Civil Engineer and elsewhere for civil engineers in London to be involved in the preparation and design of major road schemes.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe Civil Service Commission regularly recruits professional civil engineers for my Department to fill vacancies caused by internal promotions and natural wastage. It is hoped that some 30 grade I and grade II civil engineers will join my Department through the current competition advertised in theNew Civil Engineer on 14 February 1985.
I anticipate that roughly half of these will be deployed in various of the Department's regional offices on the management of the engineering aspects of the preparation and design of major road schemes, as set out in successive roads White Papers. The remainder will be in the London headquarters providing advice on aspects of engineering policy to local authorities and to the Department's regional offices.