§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the proposal for a new Swale bridge to the Isle of Sheppey; what provision has been made for this project in his Department's future programme; and what priority has been accorded to the project. [16025]
§ Mr. WattsProposals for a second crossing of the Swale to the Isle of Sheppey are part of the A249 Iwade-Queenborough improvement scheme. Draft line and side roads orders under the Highways Act 1980 were published for the scheme on 23 January. Economic, environmental and engineering assessments were carried out as part of that process. The economic appraisal involved the usual cost-benefit methodology applied to all major trunk road improvement proposals. The environmental assessment, in accordance with EC regulations, considered visual impact—including consulting Royal Fine Arts Commission—the effect on the local ecology, as well as more general environmental impacts.
The results of this assessment were also published in an environmental statement on 23 January and placed on deposit locally for public inspection. The engineering assessment, comprised value management and value engineering as well as checks to ensure that the proposals comply with our national standards.
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At cash prices £ million Year Core business capital grant Core business revenue support grant New lines and extensions capital grant Total grant 1978 69 51 — 120 1979 106 51 — 157 1980 138 80 — 218 1981 135 82 — 217 1982 190 123 — 313 1983 167 175 — 342 1984–851 137 186 — 323 1985–86 182 125 — 307 1986–87 224 66 — 290 1987–88 159 44 — 203 1988–89 150 20 — 170 1989–90 204 44 — 248 1990–91 366 74 44 484 1991–92 405 103 65 573 1992–93 546 254 83 883 1993–94 506 66 120 692 1994–952 363 10 413 786 1995–96 443 — 461 904 1996–973,4,5 Breakdown of figures not yet available for these years 973 1997–984,5,6 701 1998–994,5,6 352 1999–20005,6 163 1 15 months accounting period. 2 In addition to grant in 1994–95 LT benefitted substantially from proceeds from the sale of the subsidiaries of London Buses Ltd. 3 1996–97 outturn figure subject to end-year flexibility arrangements. 4 Apportionment of grant between LT core business and the JLE will be determined by LT in the light of emerging requirements. 5 Includes Croydon Tramlink. 6 £30 million grant carried forward from 1995–96 not yet allocated to a particular year. This scheme has been given priority to progress it to draft order stage. Its future progress will depend upon the successful completion of the remaining statutory procedures.