§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Ryrie rules have been modified or disposed of to take account of the announcement of privately funded roads.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe Ryrie rules were formally retired by the then chief secretary in his speech to the Institute of Directors in Glasgow on 5 May 1989. He also clarified the Government's general position on private finance which remains as set out in the Treasury paper of February 1988 entitled "Private Finance in Public Expenditure". In the particular case of privately financed roads, he gave an explicit assurance that reductions would not be sought in the roads programme on a scheme basis to offset privately financed projects. A copy of the Treasury paper and the speech have been placed in the Library of the House.