§ Sir Hector MonroTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has reached a conclusion on the prior options study of the Scottish Office National Roads Directorate and whether he will make a statement. [36602]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe prior options study examined a number of options for the future conduct of the management of the trunk road network. It took into account that, over a number of years, the Scottish Office has successfully pursued a series of policies which have increased the level of private sector involvement in the directorate's activities, through contracting out and the development of new contract forms. The directorate made
1506Wwe make as the figures on some areas of work are not collated nationally.
I have, however, attached at annex A a table giving the available figures. It includes income support visits for all the periods requested and contributory benefits visits for the year April 1994 to March 1995 only.
a valuable contribution to the study through identification of further scope for private sector involvement, some of which is already being pursued. The study concluded that this can best be achieved by retaining the National Roads Directorate within the Scottish Office. I do not therefore propose to create a next steps executive agency.
Past policy development in relation to trunk roads has been consistent with next steps principles; and the directorate will seek to extend the application to its work of those principles as developed in "Taking Forward Continuity and Change", Cm 2748.