HC Deb 07 November 1989 vol 159 cc504-5W
Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport further to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Sir B. Hayhoe) on 23 October at column373, whether all London hon. Members will be given copies of all the four schemes; whether community groups concerned with the proposals will be sent all four copies of the schemes at no cost to themselves; and what will be the cost of the full report of each scheme.

Mr. Atkins

Hon. Members will receive copies of the consultants' reports which are relevant to their constituencies. Copies will also be provided for display in public libraries.

Community groups will be able to purchase copies of the reports. The cost is yet to be decided. Free summaries will he available from the consultants on demand.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State For Transport, further to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Sir B. Hayhoe) on 23 October at column373, how long the consultation period for the London assessment, studies will be, once the consultants' schemes have been published; in what form he intends to lay his proposals before Parliament; who will be responsible for the consultation; which groups he will consult; and if he will give details of the consultative process.

Mr. Atkins

There will be an opportunity for anyone wishing to comment on the way forward to do so by late February 1990. Full details of the arrangements for making comments to the Department will be given when the consultants' reports are published in December.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Sir B. Hayhoe) on 23 October at column373, what has been the cost to date of the consultants; and on what basis the consultants will be retained after the publication of the results.

Mr. Atkins

The total cost of the four London assessment studies to date has been £8½ million.

It is too early to say if and on what basis the consultants will be retained following publication of their final reports.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that no schemes based on London assessment studies will go ahead until a full public inquiry has been held in each area that is encompassed by the schemes.

Mr. Atkins

Any scheme, whether involving roads or public transport, which emerges as a result of decisions on the London assessment studies will be subject to the appropriate procedures.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to give a similar guarantee to the Lea valley and the other green areas involved in London assessment studies to that which he gave in respect of Parkland walk.

Mr. Atkins

Each case must be considered on its merits in the light of the consultants' assessment of their options.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Sir B. Hayhoe) on 23 October at column373, how the environmental implications of the schemes have been assessed and costed; what are the costs; what formula has been used to assess the environmental implications of the schemes; and whether he has taken any account of the recommendations of the Pearce report in assessing the value of green and open spaces.

Mr. Atkins

The study consultants are completing a full environmental assessment of all their options. The results of that work will appear in their reports.