HC Deb 15 November 1983 vol 48 cc364-5W
Ms. Harman

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the advisory committees whose members are appointed by him; and, in respect of each such committee, how many of the members are women and how many are men.

Mr. Ridley

The advisory committees whose members are appointed by me are listed in the HMSO publication "Public Bodies" published by the Management and Personnel Office. A copy of the most recent edition called "Public Bodies 1982", is held by the Library. A new edition, to be called "Public Bodies 1983", is being prepared: this will show the number and gender of appointees as at 1 July 1983.

I list as follows those advisory committees to which I make appointments together with the required details of membership as they will appear in the Department of Transport section of "Public Bodies 1983".

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the total number of families who will need to be rehoused as a result of the construction of the east London river crossing.

Mrs. Chalker

That will depend on the date at which acquired properties will be needed, the type of tenure, how many are vacant and the extent to which the properties are simply being used as temporary accommodation. I hope to have firmer estimates in the next few months.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) residential and (b) commercial properties have so far been acquired in connection with the proposed east London river crossing; and how many remain to be acquired.

Mrs. Chalker

My Department has acquired 40 residential properties and is in the process of buying 14 more. No commercial properties have been purchased. Besides 135 of those already owned by the GLC, 87 more residential properties will be required and approximately 20 commercial properties.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the most recent estimates of the total cost of the planned east London river crossing, indicating the separate costs of (a) the bridge, (b) other structures, (c) road construction and (d) acquisition of property.

Mrs. Chalker

The information is as follows:

£ million
Main bridge across the Thames 46
Other structures 32
Road construction, including consequential Statutory Undertakers' work 43
Land and Property acquisition 17

This accommodates some design changes, including better access from the royal group of docks.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the different responses to the proposed east London river crossing which he has so far received from the Greater London council; and whether he expects any further comment from the council on this scheme.

Mrs. Chalker

In April 1982 the Greater London council notified the Department that it did not accept the Department's scheme, but it provided a number of detailed observations in case it were to proceed.

In July 1982, the council informed the Department that no objection in principle would be made, although its officers were instructed to prepare objections on environmental grounds to that part of the scheme south of the river, and to prepare alternatives in conjunction with Greenwich borough council. Further comment from the council is expected.