§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the major road construction projects for which he has accepted a cheaper 380W scheme than that originally proposed by his Department, and the sums thereby saved, for all relevant projects considered since 1st January 1974;
(2) if he will list those road development schemes adopted since 1st January 1964 for which he has accepted modifications put forward by objectors which have the effect of (a) reducing and (b) increasing the cost of the scheme by one third or more;
(3) how many draft compulsory purchase orders made on dwellings as part of road development schemes have been confirmed and how many withdrawn (a) in cases where a public inquiry was held and (b) in cases where no public inquiry was held, since 1st January 1964;
(4) how many dwellings have been demolished each year since 1st January 1964 as part of road development schemes;
(5) how many road development public inquiries held since 1st January 1964 the objectors have employed counsel;
(6) in how many road development public inquiries held since 1st January 1964 his Department has employed counsel;
(7) if he will publish in the Official Report the available information concerning (a) the number of road development public inquiries there have been under the Highways Act 1959–71 since 1st January 1964, (b) the number of cases in which the inspector recommended rejection, acceptance or variation of his Department's proposals, (c) the number of inquiries in each of these categories in which the Secretary of State accepted the inspector's recommendation and (d) the particular instances in which the inspector recommended rejection of his Department's scheme, and the particular instances in which the Secretary of State rejected the inspector's recommendation.
§ Mr. MarksThis information is not readily available and it would require a disproportionate amount of work to obtain it.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received complaining that the publication of orders in local papers is not a satisfactory way of advertising the true effect of proposed road developments.
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§ Dr. GilbertSuch complaints have been made at some recent inquiries into trunk road orders. The statutory notice required to be published inThe London Gazette and local newspapers under the First Schedule to the Highways Act 1959 states the general legal effect of the proposed order which is that, if made, it will authorise the construction of a trunk road between the particular places and along a route shown on a plan deposited and open to inspection at certain stated addresses. The physical effect of the new road on the locality is explained to objectors in a separate, detailed, statement which is unsuitable for publication in local newspapers.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy with regard to taking decisions about road schemes which may pre-empt decisions on other road schemes.
§ Mr. MarksIndividual road schemes must be justified in their own right. Inevitably the benefits of a scheme are affected by earlier road construction, but decisions are not pre-empted.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy concerning the future recruitment of staff for road construction units.
§ Dr. GilbertThe Department's policy is to maintain the minimum staff required to execute the Government's road programme.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the terms of reference of road construction units in order to reduce their commitment to the execution of a large programme of motorway and trunk road construction.
§ Dr. GilbertNo. Road construction units are an integral part of the Department responsible to the Secretary of State for carrying out the Government's programme of motorway and trunk road construction, for which my right hon. Friend is answerable to Parliament.