§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what country the company was based which was awarded the A38 Marsh Mills viaducts replacement contract; what were the circumstances which resulted in this company being awarded the contract; what was the cost of the contract; if the competition was open to companies from all European countries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Watts[holding answer 21 July 1994]: Since April, responsibility for managing, maintaining and improving the national road network in England now lies with the Highways Agency. As the information requested by my hon. Friend relates to these responsibilities, I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 17 October 1994:
The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the contract for the A38 Marsh Mills replacement viaducts.This design and build contract was won by Hochtief UK Ltd of Melksham, Wiltshire, it is a subsidiary company of Hochtief AG 105W whose head office is in Essen, Germany. The contract was awarded in March this year in the sum of £12,229,225 on the basis of the most economically advantageous bid received. The competition involved four contractors which were selected from 22 firms and joint ventures which responded to an advertisement placed in the Office Journal of the European Communities. All highways contracts with an estimated value of £1 million or more are so advertised and all contractors, whether based in the EU or beyond, are welcome to apply to be selected to tender.