§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress on the construction and funding of the Baldock bypass. [32300]
§ Ms Keeble[holding answer 1 February 2002]The Baldock bypass was originally proposed by Hertfordshire county council to be funded through the private finance initiative. However, in re-evaluating the scheme Hertfordshire decided that conventional funding would be the best method of procurement and agreed to provide a revised estimate of costs involved.
In order to ensure the most cost effective method of procurement and value for money for public resources we are currently discussing with Hertfordshire the details of the funding package for the scheme. We hope to be able to reach agreement on this in the very near future.