§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent in public money in each year since 1993 on the tendering costs for design, build, finance and operate roads projects, broken down by(a) consultants' and (b) other costs. [5756]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Andrew Smith, dated 27 November 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if he will list how much has been spent in public money in each year since 1993 on the tendering costs for Design, Build, Finance and Operate road projects, broken down by (a) consultants' and (b) other costs.Because of the nature of the DBFO Programme, we are unable to disaggregate money spent on policy work from money spent on the tendering exercises. The figures given below represent the total costs to the Department and the Highways Agency.
Year Cost to the Department of DBFO advisors Department's internal costs 1993–94 £0 million Less than £0.1 million 1994–95 £3.3 million £1.4 million 1995–96 £5.2 million £2.5 million 1996–97 (to date) £5.0 million £1.1 million Please note that the 1996–97 figures are for spend from April to the end of October. The Department's costs are the combined estimated costs of staff wages, ERNIC, superannuation, travel and subsistence and accommodation costs for both the Department of Transport and for the Highways Agency.