§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the work to date of the Highways Agency's environmental unit; and what plans there are to increase its resources. [11242]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
352WLetter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 25 January 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the work to date of the Highways Agency's environmental unit and what plans there are to increase its resources.The Agency Environmental Policy Division (AEPD) was set up on 31 January 1995 and is approaching the end of its first year of operation. The work of the Division to date has been directed towards the development of an Environmental Strategy for the Highways Agency. The Division has also established itself as the HA focal point for contact with statutory and non-statutory environmental organisations.The Division has coordinated the preparation of the environmental section of the Agency's first Annual Report and produced a booklet on the archaeological work carried out on the trunk road network in 1994/95. Both of these were published in October 1995. I enclose a copy of the archaeology booklet. You should have received a copy of the Annual Report.In line with good management practice the resources needed to discharge the duties of the division are kept under review. There are no plans to increase the complement of the Division for the present.I hope that this is useful.