§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average percentage difference in time taken for(a) roads and (b) railways between the initial consultative plan and the finally approved scheme.
§ Mr. FreemanRoad schemes completed in 1992–93 took on average 13.9 years to complete. We are currently looking at ways to reduce this figure and my right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.
Applications for orders for new rail schemes are now governed by the Transport and Works Act, which came into force on 1 January 1993. We have not yet received any applications regarding railway schemes under the provisions of this Act; it is not therefore possible to make comparisons with road schemes. The time scale between receipt of draft orders and approval would depend on the size of the scheme and the degree of controversy surrounding it.