HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 cc352-3W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by name those road schemes at the preferred route stage which will have an impact on(a) lowland heath, (b) Caledonian pine, (c) chalk grassland and (d) reedbeds, and if he will indicate in percentage terms the total area of the United Kingdom currently covered by these four habitats. [39498]

Mr. Watts

I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 21 July 1996: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if he will list by name those road schemes at the preferred route state which will have an impact on (a) lowland heath, (b) Caledonian pine, (c) chalk grassland and (d) reedbeds, if he will indicate in percentage terms the total area of the United Kingdom currently covered by these four habitats. I have set out the schemes in the current programme which the Highways Agency expect to reach preferred route state during 1996/97. Information on the impact, if any, these schemes will have on the four habitats listed is being collected and I will write to the hon. Member separately as soon as it is available. My Department does not have information on the total area of the UK covered by these habitats.

  • A1(M) Bramham—Wetherby
  • A1(M) Wetherby Bypass
  • A14 Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction
  • A36 Beckington—East of Bath Improvement
  • A259 Guestling Thorn Bypass
  • M1 Junction 10 to 15 Widening
  • M5 Junction 17 to 21 Widening
  • M6 Junction 11A to 16 Widening
  • M6 Junction 16 to 19 Widening
  • M11 Junction 8 to 9 Widening
  • M40 Junctions 3 to 4 Widening and Junction 4 Improvement

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what projections he has made of the annual cost to public funds in the years beyond 1998–99 of the road schemes already let as design, build, finance and operate schemes and those schemes expected to start in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [39491]

Mr. Watts

I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write, to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 24 July 1996: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about DBFOs. Tranche 1 contracts have been signed. Annual payments will be around £100m in 1999–2000 and will range up to £144m per year during the contract period. Negotiations on tranche 1A contracts are not all concluded, although they are expected to be completed during 1996/97. Tranche 2 has been announced but tenders have yet to be invited. At this stage any estimates of payments must be highly speculative but we expect the annual payments for both tranches together to range between £130m and £300m from 1999–2000 to the end of the contract period.