§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received any approach from private industry to develop new roads; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State reached agreement on 9 April 1987 for Dartford River Crossing Ltd. to design and build a new bridge and operate the Dartford-Thurrock crossing. In addition, as I said in my reply to my hon. Friend on 11 May at columns162–63 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a number of ideas for privately funded infrastructure projects, including roads, particularly as a result of his letter of 28 March to firms in the finance and construction industry.