§ Mr. Mike O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the cost of conducting the public inquiry into the Birmingham northern relief road which concluded in 1988;
(2) what stage the 1988 Birmingham northern relief road inquiry reached; and what happened to the report from that inquiry.
§ Mr. KeyThese questions relate to matters which are now the responsibility of the Highways Agency; the chief executive will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Mike O'Brien, dated 7 July 1994:
343WYou asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of conducting the 1988 inquiry into the Birmingham Northern Relief Road, what stage that inquiry reached, and what happened to the Inspector's report.The 1988 public inquiry costs have not been isolated from other costs incurred on the public sector scheme. The costs could only be identified by reference to individual accounts and as this would incur a disproportionate amount of staff time and cost to research, I regret I am unable to supply you with the information you request.The public inquiry into the publicly funded scheme closed in September 1988 after the Inspector had heard all the evidence. The Inspector's report of the inquiry was submitted to the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport at the end of March 1989. As you know, it has not been released and the Orders to which it related have been withdrawn.
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to publish the report of the public inquiry into the Birmingham north relief road in 1988.
§ Mr. KeyNone. The draft orders which were the subject of the inquiry have been withdrawn and the report would not be relevant to the scheme now proposed.