§ Mr. David LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the(a) benefits and (b) costs of privatising English motorways; and if he will make a statement. [101517]
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§ Mr. JamiesonNo detailed assessment of the costs and benefits of privatising England's motorways has been made.
In 1999 the Next Steps Review of the Highways Agency looked briefly at the possibility of privatisation as part of the 'prior options review' that re-examined the case for Agency status. These reviews are routine. The report (published in July 1999) concluded that privatisation could only be an option for the future when a number of issues had been resolved including the identification of a secure revenue stream.