§ Mr. AdleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation of changes in motorway planning policy in relation to increasing the number of refreshment facilities.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleFollowing a commitment in the citizens charter, we announced a new policy on the provision of motorway services on 6 August. Under the694W new arrangements it is for the private sector rather than the Department of Transport to identify sites for motorway service areas, seek planning permission and acquire the land. The Department has since received a number of approaches from commercial organisations interested in the opportunities generated by the new policy and we hope that these will develop into firm proposals in due course.