§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many compensation claims have been submitted in respect of the North Devon link road steps 2(a) and 2(b); in which years they were submitted; how many are still outstanding; and, where a figure has been agreed, how long it takes for payment to be made.
§ Mr. ChopeA total of 132 claims have been received: 58 date from 1986, 69 from 1987, 4 from 1988 and one from 1989; 118 are still outstanding, of which 22 are in the last stages of legal completion. Advance payments are available on request from the date entry is taken and 92 claimants have received at least one such payment. The figures exclude the 1 ft square plots at Great Western green where 129 claims out of 130 remain outstanding.
Once compensation is agreed, it takes an average of six months to complete the legal processes and make the final payment, but this time can be affected by a number of factors outside the Department's control. Claims attract interest, at statutory rates, from the date of entry on to the land until payment is made.