§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost to date of the public inquiry into the Birmingham northern relief road; what is the estimated total cost of the inquiry; and what is the estimated total cost of the Birmingham northern relief road scheme. [20776]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Clare Short, dated 19 March 1996:
You asked the Secretary of State for Transport about costs in respect of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road (BNRR).
The public inquiry into the scheme closed on 4 October last year. The total cost to the Highways Agency was about £1.2 million.
BNRR is a privately funded scheme and the total cost is a matter for Midland Expressway Ltd, the concessionaire.