§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a further statement on the implementation of his policy on the introduction of private sector management of motorways;
(2) if he will make a further statement on the implementation of his policy on motorway tolling;
(3) what response he has received from the private sector to his policy on electronic charging for motorway use and the private management of motorways.
§ Mr. WattsPolicy on these matters was set out by the then Secretary of State for Transport on 2 December 1993 at column650.
Some 30 consortia comprising over 70 companies have submitted proposals for electronic tolling systems for the programme of research, development and trials announced in that statement. We are now assessing these in order to select a limited number for test-track and on-road trials next year.
The statement also announced our intention to identify projects under which the private sector would design, build, finance and operate roads for which they would receive payment from Government in relation to use. Four such DBFO projects have been identified for the first contracts, two of which will involve private sector management of motorways. Pre-qualifying bids have been received from 17 consortia comprising over 70 firms.