§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to sign contracts for design, build, finance and operate road schemes, prior to enacting legislation to enable a charge to be levied from users of existing motorways. [32745]
(2) what studies he has carried out into the implications for public spending of the design, build, finance and operate private finance initiative if Government plans for motorway charging is abandoned or substantially delayed; [32742]
(3) whether he intends his plans for motorway charging to encompass (a) the A419/A417 Swindon-Gloucester road, (b) the A69 Newcastle-Carlisle road, (c) the A30/A35 356W Exeter-Bere Regis Road, (d) the A50/A564 Stoke-Derby road and (e) other all-purpose trunk roads. [32744]
§ Mr. WattsCompetitions for the first two tranches of DBFO projects, comprising eight schemes, are currently under way. They are expected to be concluded later this year and early next year respectively. The DBFO initiative is not conditional on charging users directly for the use of inter-urban roads. Remuneration of DBFO operators, which will be over 30 years and linked to usage, will be met from the resources available to this Department for its spending programmes.
Legislation would be required to introduce charging and that would be a matter for Parliament in due course. The Government have said that they envisage charging for the motorway network.
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his timetable for his plans to charge motorists for the use of motorways; and if he will make a statement. [32746]
§ Mr. WattsPolicy on motorway charging remains as stated by the then Secretary of State for Transport in theOfficial Report, column 646–49, on 2 December 1993. Its introduction is subject to the availability of suitable technology, which is being assessed, and Parliament's approval of the necessary legislation.