Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the anticipated liability is of the Highways Agency with respect to blight and compulsory purchase of property, associated with the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road; and what the basis is for that calculation. [111690]
§ Mr. HillThe Highways Agency is responsible for the purchase of land under blight and compulsory purchase provisions, and it retains the ownership of all land and properties needed for the BNRR scheme. All the costs that the Highways Agency so incurs will be fully reimbursed by the concessionaire, Midland Expressway Limited.
Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide an itemised estimate of the cost to the public purse of widening the M42 section of the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road. [111691]
§ Mr. HillA previous estimate for the Department's share of the reconstruction costs for widening the M42 near Water Orton was £20 million. That was a preliminary estimate at an early stage in the design process, and it has since been revised. A fixed sum of £18 million has now been agreed with MEL.
Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the annual liability is of(a) the Highways Agency and (b) other Government departments to the private sector, including Midland Expressway, for any delays in the construction of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road and associated work caused by the Highways Agency or other Government departments; and what is the basis of such calculations. [111676]