§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take with regard to the Rayner study team review of standards and certification of roads and bridges.
§ Mr. ChalkerThis review was completed in February 1981. It raised a number of questions which required further study and Sir Derek Rayner agreed that a working group within my Department should carry out follow up appraisals with a view to producing a definitive report. That report has now been submitted and subject to points of detail I have accepted the recommendations which it contains. The trade union side of the departmental Whitley council have been consulted and they similarly accept the report.
The recommendations are aimed at streamlining the procedures for standards and certification, in particular by some restructuring of the organisation which deals with them within my department. As a result responsibility for more of the work will pass from headquarters to the regional office. When implemented this and other changes will lead to annual savings of some £1 million in administrative costs. I expect the major organisational changes to take effect from 1 August this year though implementation of all the recommendations will not be completed until 1983. Copies of the follow-up appraisal report have been placed in the House of Commons library.