§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on(a) consulting on, (b) designing and (c) advertising the Highways Agency's proposal for grade-separated junctions along the A 14 between Brampton and Thrapston; who decided to stop the proposal; what evaluation of project was originally undertaken; how that changed before the decision was taken to stop the proposals; what the alternative schemes are; how the value for money of the alternative schemes has been evaluated; for what reason the alternative schemes were not produced when the original proposal was withdrawn; what low cost safety improvements are planned; and when they will be made. [134862]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have asked the acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Stephen Hickey, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Stephen Hickey to Mr. Jonathan Djanogly, dated 30 October 2003:
336WI have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the A14 Thrapston to Brampton Grade Separation Scheme and the decision to suspend further work on the project following a recent re-evaluation of scheme benefits under the continuous value management process.I know that you have been in correspondence with the Agency's Bedford office on this matter and that a meeting with officials has been arranged for Friday 31 October 2003 The information you seek will be made available at that meeting.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 21 October,Official Report, column 472W, on air travel (compensation) when his Department will produce an updated Regulatory Impact Assessment reflecting changes made during negotiation; and if he will place it in the Library. [135368]
§ Mr. McNultyI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 October 2003,Official Report, columns 257-58W.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received sufficient information on possible new runway sites at(a) Birmingham (alternative runway proposal), (b) Gatwick (alternative runway proposals by BAA), (c) Redhill, (d) the Marinair site, (e) Severnside, (f) Sheppey and (g) Thames Reach, to enable consideration to be given to them in the forthcoming White Paper on Air Transport. [135191]
§ Dr. HowellsAs my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport. has made clear on many occasions, we will consider carefully all serious, worked-up proposals submitted as responses to the consultation.
The Department held discussions with several promoters of proposals for new airport capacity that are alternatives to, or variants of, options set out in the Government's consultation document. The aim has been to provide guidance on the methodology used to appraise options in the SERAS study and on the information that will be needed by the Department in order to appraise alternative ideas submitted as part of the consultation.