§ Mr. Chris DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the schemes within the 1996 trunk road programme which are expected to commence construction between(a) 1 January 1997 and 31 March 1997, (b) 1 April 1997 and 30 June 1997, (c) 1 July 1997 and 30 September 1997, (d) 1 October 1997 and 31 December 1997 and 31 December 1997 and (e) 1 January 1996 and 31 March 1998. [8445]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Chris Davies, dated 16 December 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if he will list the schemes within the 1996 Trunk Road Programme which are expected to commence construction between (a) 1 January and 31 March 1997, (b) I April and 30 June 1997, (c) 1 July and 30 September 1997, (d) 1 October and 31 December 1997 and (e) 1 January and 31 March 1998.Contracts for two schemes on the Al2 (Hackney Wick-M11 Contracts 1 and 3) were let on 14 November 1996. It is likely that they will commence construction during one of the periods listed but I am not able to give a more precise date at the present time.Contracts have also been signed for eight Private Finance Initiative (PH) Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) projects during 1996. Construction has already started on nine of the eleven schemes included in these DBFO contracts, and the A19 Norton-Parkway Interchange Improvement and M40 Junctions 1A–3 Widening are both expected to start early next year.For all schemes included in a DBFO project, it is for the DBFO company to determine the construction programme. However, the shadow toll regime is structured to include strong incentives for early construction.