HC Deb 30 October 1986 vol 103 cc226-7W
Mr. Colin Shepherd

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate, in respect of the A49 trunk road rebuilding contract currently being executed at Callow hill, Herefordshire, whether there have been any alterations to the specification to that set out in the tender documents against which the contract was let; and whether he anticipates the contract will be completed on the schedule called for in the contract.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

There have been no major specification changes. There have been two minor changes to the method of working as set out in the tender documents:

  1. (i) The rolled asphalt roadbase is being laid in three layers instead of two as originally specified. This enables earlier protection of the road sub-base to be provided.
  2. (ii) The sequence of stockpiling excavated material has been modified to better suit the contractor's programme.

Both these variations have been agreed with the contractor with no increase in contractual cost. We cannot at this stage preclude the possibility of delay. No formal extension of contract has been granted so far.