HC Deb 24 July 2000 vol 354 cc393-4W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the total amount spent by his Department and its predecessors since 1986 is on(a) design work, (b) public consultation and inquiries and (c) other identifiable cost headings in connection with road improvements on the A303 past Stonehenge, including Countess Roundabout and Winterbourne Stoke. [131533]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The information is not available for local authority districts. The latest information for the North West shows that for 1994, 63 per cent. of all new development took place on recycled land.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what levels and type of pollution were measured in the Ribble Valley in each year since 1994. [131647]

Mr. Hill

Ribble Valley Borough Council (RVBC) established an air quality monitoring station in Chatburn in 1997. It is equipped to continuously monitor sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and PM10 particulates. The following data have been obtained:

Mr. Hill

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Robert Key, dated 24 July 2000: The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent question about the total amount spent by his Department and its predecessors on road improvements for the A303 past Stonehenge, including Countess Roundabout and Winterbourne Stoke since 1986. Prior to 1 April 1996, the only expenditure by the Highways Agency and its predecessors that can be attributed solely to the A303/Amesbury-Berwick Down scheme past Stonehenge relates to a public consultation exhibition held in 1993 costing £32,000 and a conference and exhibition in 1994 costing £78,000. Since then the Agency has spent £909,461 on the design of the A303 Stonehenge scheme, including preliminary work on the improvement of Countess Roundabout. In addition, a public exhibition was held in 1999 at a cost of £48,000. If you wish to discuss this matter further, Mark Bailey, the Highways Agency's Route Manager for the A303 (telephone 01179 878198) would be happy to talk to you.