§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 866, if the consultants responsible for the TransPennine study strategy report were made aware, at the time they were commissioned, that the Government were considering extending the M65 westwards from Blackburn to the M6.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of the TransPennine study strategy report.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe whole study, including roadside interviews and data collection, cost about £900,000.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many transport consultancy organisations tendered for the TransPennine study strategy commissioned by his Department.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleFour.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the TransPennine study strategy report was commissioned; when it was due to report; when it reported; and if he will make a statement on the delay in publication.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 3 July 1992 at column 726. The study was commissioned in January 1990 and expected to be completed in spring 1991. The scope of the work was extended and the study completed in spring 1992. The strategy report was published in September 1992.
The study was wide ranging and addressed complex issues. Our consideration of the consultants' findings took longer than expected.