§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the outline proposals for the safety study of the A66 were presented to the regional planning authorities; when each planning body gave its approval; and when the study commenced. [149816]
13W
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 9 February 2001]: The three regional planning authorities were consulted in December 1998/January 1999 on the proposed programme of studies identified in A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England. Further consultants have been undertaken throughout the development stages of the A66 Safety Study with regards the terms of reference and study brief.
The regional planning authorities in the North-east, North-west and Yorkshire and the Humber continue to be individually represented on the A66 Safety Study Steering Group.
The consultants were appointed to undertake the study in March 2000 and the final report is expected in spring 2001. The final report will be presented to regional planning authorities for their consideration.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Red ions when he will have complete road accident figures for all highways for the year 2000. [149813]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 9 February 2001]: Summary figures for the year 2000 are scheduled to be published in June as a Transport Statistics bulletin Road Casualties in Great Britain: Main Results: 2000. A copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how long he expects the regional planning bodies to take in considering the safety study of the A66. [149815]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 9 February 2001]: This is a matter for the three individual regional planning bodies representing the North-east, North-west and Yorkshire and the Humber regions.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Red ions which regional planning conference needs to give its endorsement to the Temple Sowerby bypass before it can proceed. [149814]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 9 February 2001]: The North West Regional Assembly, in its capacity as regional planning body, must endorse the Temple Sowerby bypass before it can proceed.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he announced that there would be a safety study into the A66. [149817]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 9 February 2001]: The A66 Safety Study was included in A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England which was published in July 1998.