§ Mr. David Howellasked the Minister of Transport on what relative cost comparisons his policy of excluding private horticultural and landscape contractors from motorway planting projects is based; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Bob BrownThe decision to use the Forestry Commission and county authorities for planting schemes on motorways was not based only on cost comparisons, but a recent review of cost of work carried out under contract and the Forestry Commission's costs confirmed that the balance of advantage lay in continuing the existing arrangements.