§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total projected cost of the Newbury bypass before its postponement in December last year; and what is the total projected cost now, under the current tendering process. [40583]
§ Mr. Watts[holding answer 31 October 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to hon Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Rendel, dated 1 November 1995:
As you know, the Minister for Railway and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, what was the total projected cost of the Newbury Bypass before its postponement in December of last year: and what is the total projected cost now, under the current tendering process.You will appreciate that due to the imminent tendering process, there is some commercial sensitivity attached to the previous tender prices received last year. However, for the current tenders, we now expect the cost excluding land and VAT to be about £60m. This figure has increased slightly since last December due to increases in construction prices.
§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the projected total cost of the current tendering process itself for the Newbury bypass. [40584]
§ Mr. Watts[holding answer 31 October 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Rendel, dated 1 November 1995:
As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the projected total cost of the current tendering process itself for the Newbury Bypass.Costs to the tenderers are unknown to us, and the cost of our own staff time is relatively small and not easily identifiable, but the estimated cost of our Consultants time in preparing new tender documents and assessing them, and the cost of printing the tender documents is about £100,000.