§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which of the previous Government's road building schemes have been subjected to cost benefit analysis in the course of his Department's Roads Review. [20558]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 15 December 1997]: During their development, all of the previous Government's road building schemes have been subjected to cost benefit analysis. No new information has been collected in the course of the current Roads Review which would enable a new cost benefit analysis to be carried out. Existing information is being reassessed in the light of the five fundamental criteria (accessibility, safety, economy, the environment and integration) identified in the Roads Review consultation paper "What Role for Trunk Roads in England?"
§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the guidelines which the Highways Agency follows in determining whether or not it conducts a cost benefit analysis for new road schemes; and what changes he has made to these guidelines since 1 May. [20559]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 15 December 1997]: The Highways Agency carries out a formal cost benefit analysis using the computer program COBA (or, in certain circumstances, URECA) for all new road schemes costing more than £1 million. Schemes costing less than that amount are also subject to economic appraisal conforming to the same economic principles and using the same economic parameters, but may employ less 155W sophisticated methods. No changes have been made to these guidelines since 1 May. A new road assessment methodology is being considered as part of our strategic Roads Review.