§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the additional cost of completing the M40 due to delays arising from litigation in connection with the proposed line of the route.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAlthough the delays arising from the litigation will lead to additional costs, the full costs are subject to other variables and will not be known until after the road is built. It is clear that there will be increased costs both in terms of actual expenditure and in terms of lost benefits to both potential users of the new road and those communities who have to wait longer for the relief that the M40 will bring.