HC Deb 05 May 1999 vol 330 cc384-5W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many vehicles used the Al/M1 Yorkshire link road in its first full month of operation; what was the total sum paid to Yorkshire Link under the design, build, finance and operate contract; and if he will make a statement. [81898]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 23 April 1999]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Phil Willis, dated 5 May 1999: Ml-Al link road—volumes of traffic As you know, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question. You asked "how many vehicles used the MI-A1 Yorkshire Link road in its first full month of operation; what was the total sum paid to Yorkshire Link Ltd. under the design, build, finance and operate contract". Traffic volumes vary along the length of the new link road. In its first full month, the average vehicle usage was 1.5 million vehicles. Approximately 20% of these were heavy goods vehicles. The estimated cost to public funds is measured by the Expected Net Present Value of the shadow toll payments by the Highways Agency over the 30-year life of the contract. The exact payment will depend on traffic flows. The expected range is between £186m-£281m over the 30-year period. It is not possible to provide more detailed information, since this is commercially sensitive and protected by confidentiality clauses in the contract which pre-date the Open Government initiative on disclosure of information. Additional information on this contract can be found in the National Audit Office Report "The Private Finance Initiative. The first four Design, Build, Finance and Operate Roads Contracts", which was published on 28 January 1998. I trust the above information meets your requirements.