§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the diagramatic representations of starting and end points for journeys based on road traffic surveys in respect of the Newcastle upon Tyne Cradlewell bypass scheme, set out in the same format as the published documentation contained in annex B of the Newcastle city council's case for the Newcastle western bypass scheme.
§ Mr. KeyThe Cradlewell bypass is a local road scheme promoted by Newcastle city council from which the required information should be sought. The Newcastle western bypass was promoted by my Department as a trunk road proposal.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the key assumptions underpinning the cost-benefit analysis for the Newcastle upon Tyne Cradlewell bypass scheme;
(2) what assessment he has made of the conformity with his Department's guidelines of the cost-benefit analysis for the Newcastle upon Tyne Cradlewell bypass scheme prepared by Newcastle upon Tyne city council.
§ Mr. KeyIt is not practicable to organise a comprehensive check on the background information supporting every application for transport supplementary grant—TSG. The standard of the Cradlewell bypass submission was within the normal parameters for schemes of this type. The system relies on good practice by local highway authorities. The Department operates a series of scheme audits by independent consultants. It will eventually look into all aspects of TSG submissions, including the reliability of cost and other information and whether the forecast scheme benefits have been realised. This is done on the basis of a sample cross section of schemes. Any significant shortcomings that this initiative throws up will be addressed by refining the control the Department applies, and the advice it offers.
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§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the key assumptions underpinning the cost-benefit analysis for the Newcastle upon Tyne Cradlewell bypass scheme;
(2) if he will place a copy of the cost-benefit analysis for the Newcastle upon Tyne Cradlewell bypass scheme in the Library; and if he will provide the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East with a copy.