§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what property his Department holds for the purposes of the present and previously planned roads programme, indicating(a) the number of houses, (b) the number of other properties and (c) the extent of land holdings; and what was the total amount spent in purchasing the property in each of these categories. [10846]
§ 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 17 January 1997:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what property his Department holds for the purposes of the present and previously planned roads programme, indicating (a) the number of houses, (b) the number of other properties and (c) the extent of land holdings; and what was the total amount spent in purchasing the property in each of these categories.The information is not available in the form requested. The Highways Agency's previously planned (pre-November 1995) roads programme required 3,176 properties/plots at a purchase cost of £.301.6M. The Highways Agency's present programme will require 1,411 properties/plots at a purchase cost of 119.8M.The purchase price excludes compensation payable for disturbance, home loss removal expenses and fees, etc. In addition we hold some 700 properties/plots in connection with schemes previously under construction or completed which were not listed in the November 1995 budget announcement as either withdrawn or in the programme. These are needed for operational reasons or are for eventual disposal when vacant. The purchase price of these properties/plot was £61.7M.