HC Deb 30 October 1985 vol 84 c471W
Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign ad Commonwealth Affairs how much of the Songea-Makambako road, Tanzania after upgrading was completed, has subsequently had to be redone or repaired; and what has been the cost of this.

Mr. Raison

Minor repairs after landslips— which had been expected with the relatively low cost per kilometre of the project—have been paid for as part of the project, and of its subsequent maintenance, for which £190,000 has so far been allocated.

Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Tanzanian Government concerning the progress of the upgrading of the Songea-Makambako road.

Mr. Raison

There has been continuous contact throughout work on the project, including planning board meetings held roughly every quarter.

Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the supplementary contract for the second phase of the Songea-Makambako road was negotiated.

Mr. Raison

The contract was awarded on 23 December 1982.

Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will itemise the reasons for the increase in the cost of the Songea-Makambako road from the original estimated cost in 1978 to the amount spent to date.

Mr. Raison

We could not forecast the exact final cost at the outset for lack of full detailed designs. To achieve an early start a special target cost contract was concluded rather than a conventional admeasurement contract. Additional factors were the 1981 decision to extend the sealed surface of the road to its full length of 184 miles instead of the 97 miles first envisaged, higher than expected inflation and technical delays in the early part of the project. It is not possible to attribute the cash increase to each item individually as they are closely interrelated.

Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is now the estimated cost for the completion of the upgrading of the Songea-Makambako road, Tanzania.

Mr. Raison

£98.6 million, of which the British Government have agreed to provide £891.6 million.