Birmingham Relief Road (Hansard, 15 June 1989)

§ Mr. Richard Shepherd
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long, following his recent announcement that the proposed Birmingham relief road will now be subject to a competition for the private sector to finance, design, build and operate, he envisages this process will take; when he expects to publish the report of the inspector to the public inquiries; how much money has already been spent on compensation for the previously announced preferred route; and how many claims for compensation relating to the previously preferred route are currently under negotiation.

§ Mr. Portillo
The Government want to see the road constructed as quickly as possible, and will announce a timetable for the competition as soon as possible. A decision on the inspector's report will be announced when the competition has taken place.
The compensation provisions do not come into force until the statutory orders for the scheme have been made. The Department has bought a number of properties under planning blight, costing approximately £2.3 million. A further nine cases are currently being processed.

§ Mr. Richard Shepherd
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish his Department's estimate of the cost to date of the work carried out by Sir Owen Williams and Partners and the estimated cost of any further contractual commitments with Sir Owen Williams and Partners relating to the previously preferred route for the Birmingham relief road.

§ Mr. Portillo
A number of specialist firms and consultants have been employed in the preparation of' the Birmingham northern relief road. The total cost so far is about £10 million. The work done is not abortive; the information gathered will be made available to the private sector. The future role of Sir Owen Williams and Partners is still under discussion.

§ Mr. Richard Shepherd
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will consider claims for compensation towards the legal costs of individuals, companies and local authorities represented at the public inquiry relating to the previously preferred route for the Birmingham relief road.

§ Mr. Portillo
Claims for compensation towards the legal costs of individuals, companies and local authorities represented at the public inquiry for the Birmingham northern relief road will be dealt with in accordance with the normal practice once a decision on the scheme has been announced.

§ Mr. Richard Shepherd
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's estimated costs to date for the previously preferred route for the Birmingham relief road; what are his Department's estimated costs to date of the various public inquiries relating to the previously preferred route; and if he will estimate his Department's costs in implementing the competition for the road.

§ Mr. Portillo
I refer my hon. Friend to the answers already given on costs. The Department is unable to disaggregate its own internal running costs to individual schemes. We are not able to give details of the indirect 521W costs of public inquiries, such as departmental staff costs. The direct costs, such as accommodation were about £39,000.
It is too early to estimate what the costs of implementing the competition will be. Much will depend on how many bids are received and the nature of those bids.