§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what means environmental impacts are taken into account in his cost-benefit assessment of new motorway proposals.
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§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleDecisions on motorway and other trunk road schemes are based on full assessment of all the relevant effects. Some of the effects, including construction costs, time and accident savings, and changes in vehicle operating costs, are valued in monetary terms. Environmental effects are not give monetary values, but a comprehensive assessment is made, covering noise, visual, ecological, air quality and other relevant effects. The techniques used are described in the Department's "Manual of Environmental Appraisal".