§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total cost to date, and what is the current cost per month, of his Department's and the Highways Agency's use of(a) Brays private detective agency, and (b) other private detective agencies and if he 1136W will give a breakdown of those costs per road scheme or project.
§ Mr. WattsThis is an operational matter for the Highways Agency.
I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Laurie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 5 April 1995:
Mr. John Watts has asked me to write in reply to your Parliamentary Question about the use by the Department of Transport and the Highways Agency of Brays and other private detective agencies in connection with road schemes.Detective agencies have been employed by solicitors, on behalf of the Department on the following schemes. The information you requested is below. All but £200 of the payments, marked *, were to Brays Detective Agency.1137W
Road scheme Paid to date £ Estimated ongoing monthly cost £ A12 Hackney Wick to M11 Link Road 294,000 25,000 A4/A6 Batheaston/Swainswick Bypass 150,000 Nil M3 Bar End-Compton 259,000 Nil M65 Blackburn Southern 1,500 Bypass *200 Nil
Road scheme Paid to date £ Estimated ongoing monthly cost £ A34 Newbury Bypass 300 Nil A11 Besthorpe-Wymondham 450 Nil Total of all above 705,450 25,000 The figures have been rounded. I hope this is sufficient for your purposes.