§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate at what stage during the preparation of a road scheme the advice of the Department of the500W Environment is sought regarding the need for, and the scope of, an environmental assessment; at what stage the decision is taken on whether the EC directive on environmental assessment is applicable; and how the decision on whether the EC directive applies is made public.
§ Mr. ChopeEnvironmental appraisal is an essential part of the development of all schemes. Advice is sought from the Department of the Environment, and statutory environmental organisations among others, from the earliest stages of route proposals. That advice is taken into account by the Secretary of State for Transport in making his decision on the need for, and scope of, an environmental statement before publication of draft line orders. A public notice is issued at this point.