§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what penalties have been incurred by Balfour Beatty, the contractors, for the widening of the M20 at Maidstone, for late completion of the contract; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what assessment he has made of whether the reasons so far published for delays in completion of the M20 widening contract around Maidstone are complete; and if he will carry out an investigation into them.
§ Mr. KeyThe contract contains provisions for payment of liquidated damages if the contractor overruns the final contract completion date, This will be determined by the engineer to the contract when all the relevant facts of this complex issue are known to him and have been fully assessed. It is too early to say what penalties will be imposed.