§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he uses to assess whether value for money is obtained from his Department's road programme.
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§ Mr. WattsThe Department employs cost-benefit analyses to appraise new road schemes at different stages of their preparation to ensure that they will provide value for money. The benefits measure is accident reductions and time and vehicle operating costs savings to road users. The analysis is complemented by wide-ranging appraisals of environmental impacts.
When schemes are completed, the accuracy of the predicted traffic flows—the key input for both the cost-benefit analyses and the environmental appraisal—is monitored. In response to a recommendation of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment, research is being undertaken to enhance and extend "before and after" scheme monitoring.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what adjustments he intends to propose in respect of the fixed trip matrix assumption in COBA.
§ Mr.WattsIn response to the recent report of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment, the Department has issued guidance on the use of currently available techniques for variable trip matrix appraisal. These appraisals will be undertaken for all national road schemes in preparation, except where prior assessment shows that the trip matrix will not vary significantly as a result of the scheme.
The Department has commissioned consultants to develop improved techniques for undertaking variable matrix economic appraisal, to complement the fixed matrix COBA program.