§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations he took into account in arriving at his decisions on the Al2-A13 section of the M25 motorway in respect of the objections made in paragraph 10.44 of the inspector's report on the public inquiry, in view of the fact that the inspector re- 880W ported he was unable to form any balanced conclusion owing to the failure of representatives of his Department to answer the objections as stated in paragraphs 10.44.15 and 11.5 of the report.
§ Dr. GilbertThe considerations are fully explained in the decision letter dated 21st February 1975, copies of which were forwarded to the hon. Member and to all the objectors.
§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the proposed savings of £87 million on road and transport for 1977–78 will be related to the proposed expenditure on the A.12-A.13 section of the M25 motorway.
§ Dr. GilbertNone. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Consett (Mr. Watkins) on the effect of the public expenditure cuts on the motorway and trunk road programme.
§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the up-to-date cost of the A.12-A.13 section of the M25 motorway; and by how much this exceeds the estimated cost of the £16 million in 1973.
§ Dr. GilbertThe cost of the A.12-A.13 section of the M25 is under review but is expected to be between £30 million-£35 million at December 1975 prices. It exceeds the cost quoted at the inquiry which was based on October 1972 prices by between £14 million-£19 million. A large part of the increase is attributable to inflation.
§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconvene the inquiry for section A.12-A13 of the M25 motorway, on the grounds that the need for the motorway may be properly challenged, as happened recently at Winchester.
§ Dr. GilbertI am not aware that anyone was prevented from giving evidence on any matter he wished to raise.
§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he gave his authority to British Rail to construct a bridge at Nags Head lane over 881W the proposed line of route of the M25 motorway.
§ Dr. GilbertThe line of the route of the M25 motorway was confirmed in November 1975 and British Rail was given authority to let a contract for the construction of this bridge in May this year.