§ Mr. KaufmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Highways Agency was established; for what reasons it was established; what are its annual administrative costs, including salaries; what were the equivalent annual costs when the work was done within the Department of Transport; what are the annual salaries and emoluments of, respectively, the chief executive and other principal officers; and what were the annual salaries and comparable payments of those officials who carried out analogous and comparable duties when the work was done within his Department.
§ Mr. KeyThe Highways Agency was established on 1 April 1994 as an executive agency of the Department of Transport, to manage and maintain the existing motorway and trunk road network in England and to deliver the Government's road programme. The agency was established as part of the Government's next steps programme, with the aim of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of this major executive business. Copies of the agency's framework document and 1994–95 business plan have been placed in the Library.
The total provision for administration cost in 1994–95 including pay is £87.8 million, compared to provision of £88.5 million in 1993–94. The chief executive was appointed for a five-year term following an open competition at a salary of £100,000 per annum. He is also eligible for performance pay. The chief executive has additional responsibilities to those of the grade 2 officer who headed the former Highways Safety and Traffic Command within the Department. Other principal officers who transferred to the Highways Agency did so on existing civil service terms and conditions.