HC Deb 20 July 2001 vol 372 cc534-5W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received on the decision-making procedures for constructing bypasses under the 10-year transport plan. [5512]

Mr. Jamieson

My Department receives a large number of representations about the construction of bypasses, from a wide variety of organisations and individuals. Many of these refer to the decision-making processes involved.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the procedures for reaching decisions on the construction of bypasses made under the 10-year transport plan. [5513]

Mr. Jamieson

The final decision on the construction of major road schemes, including bypasses, rests with the Secretary of State. Major schemes will generally emerge in future from the Multi-Modal and Road Based Studies commissioned following the Roads Review and from decisions taken by regional planning bodies in drawing up their regional transport strategies as part of regional planning guidance on which they will submit recommendations to the Secretary of State. Plans for bypasses may also be submitted by local authorities as part of their local transport plans, decisions on which will also be announced by the Secretary of State as part of the local transport settlement.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions to whom the regional planning authority is accountable for reaching its decisions on the construction of bypasses under the 10-year transport plan. [5514]

Mr. Jamieson

Regional planning machinery varies by region. In Yorkshire and the Humber the Regional Assembly for Yorkshire and the Humberside is the regional planning body and is accountable to its member local authorities and, therefore, indirectly to local electors. The final decision on the construction of bypasses rests with the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the procedures for the construction of bypasses under the 10-year transport plan. [5272]

Mr. Jamieson

I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.