§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the estimated cost of the A40 Western avenue improvement scheme in November 1987; and what is the latest estimate for these works.
§ Mr. AtkinsI presume that my hon. Friend is concerned with the scheme to improve the A40 Western avenue at its junction with Long lane. The estimated cost quoted in the Secretary of State's decision letter of November 1987 was £18.2 million (1986 prices). The latest published estimate was £4.1 million (1987 prices). The cost of the scheme has been reassessed, in accordance with the Department's usual practice, before tenders are invited this summer for the first of two major construction contracts. For commercial reasons it is not the Department's practice to reveal such estimates at this stage. An indication of the size of the contract will be given when notice of intention to invite tenders is published in the EC'sOfficial Journal.