§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport anti the Regions how much was spent by his Department on trunk roads in Cambridgeshire in each year since 1990–91, at current prices. [142872]
§ Mr. HillThis is an operational matter for the Highways Agency and I have asked is Chief Executive, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Tim Matthews to Mrs. Anne Campbell, dated 12 February 2001:
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Keith Hill, has asked me to write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question relating to how much has been spent on trunk roads in Cambridgeshire in each year since 1990–91. I apologise for the delay in replying.As we do not keep financial data on a county basis, a very lengthy investigation of our records would be required to answer your specific question. In the early 1990s we used Local Authorities to manage trunk roads on our behalf; however, major Improvement Schemes and other major works were managed as a separate programme and costs were not necessarily attributed to an individual county and some schemes crossed county boundaries.Since the introduction of private sector Managing Agents in 1996, the management of the trunk road network is not constrained by county boundaries. This approach will continue when these contracts are renewed. However, Lord Whitty has asked me to investigate how the Highway Agencys future records could be kept on a regional or sub-regional basis.If you wish to discuss this matter further I please contact Jim Boud, Highways Agencys Divisional Director, telephone 01234 796191.