Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

1998

Question 30/1/98 - Archie Norman (Conservative, Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what compensation was paid out to the four consortia which tendered for the Weald and Downland DBFO project.

Answer - Glenda Jackson (Labour, Hampstead and Highgate): No compensation has been paid to the four consortia. When claims from the consortia for reasonable costs incurred in submitting their tenders for the Weald and Downland project have been submitted, they will be assessed and any appropriate compensation paid.

Question 9/3/98 - Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative, Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions:

• What performance indicators were included in the DBFO contract in relation to the new A419/A417 road scheme regarding the quality of the concrete road surface; at what stages and to what extent these performance indicators were monitored during the laying of the concrete; and if all the performance indicators were successfully achieved by the contractor before final payment was made;
• What was the precise specification of the DBFO contract in relation to the new A419/A417 road scheme regarding the smoothness of the concrete surface of the road; how this was specified in relation to the noise generated; and if the surface which has been provided meets that specification;
• How many representations his department and the Highways Agency have received regarding noise generated by the new A419/A417 road scheme; and what further noise abatement measures are proposed;
• What was his department's advice regarding road surfaces and noise to the public inquiry inspector on the new A419/A417 road scheme; and in what respects that advice differed from the departmental standard for a normal public procurement process for a new road.

Answer - Glenda Jackson (Labour, Hampstead and Highgate): I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Lawrie Haynes, to write to the honourable member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, dated 9 March 1998:

The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson, has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary questions about the new A419/A417 road scheme.

Over 70 representations have been received about noise from the new road. The DBFO company has agreed to extend the mounding at the basin overbridge, with the agreement of a local landowner, and we have agreed to upgrade 200 metres of anti-dazzle fencing at Latton to a 2-metre-high noise fence.

The road surface specification of the DBFO contract is listed in the construction requirements as Specification for Highways Works published by HMSO in August 1993. This is the specification normally used for trunk roads in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The specific clauses in relation to this scheme about the smoothness of the concrete surface of the road are 1026, 1029 and 1031, copies of which have already been placed in the House of Commons Library.

The specification does not relate smoothness of concrete finish to the noise generated.

The construction certificates issued by the DBFO company and signed by the contractor and designer certify that the pavement satisfies the construction requirements.

The performance indicators included in the DBFO contract regarding the quality of the concrete road surface are included in the specification and include the clauses mentioned earlier.

The monitoring of these performance indicators is specified in appendix 1/5 of the specification. The construction certificates issued by the DBFO company and signed by the contractor and designer certify that the pavement provided has been tested in all respects so as to satisfy the construction requirements.

The advice given to the inspector and to the general public at the respective public inquiries was that the future contractor would be able to choose the road surfacing material from the alternatives allowed within the specification for highway works.

The choice is the same as usually allowed under normal procurement procedures.

Question 6/4/98 - Jim Cunningham (Labour, Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the increase in the number of shadow road toll schemes to be made under the private finance initiative arrangements.

Answer - Glenda Jackson (Labour, Hampstead and Highgate): The only road scheme approved and being taken forward in England under private finance since May 1997 is the A13 Thames Gateway DBFO project. The payment mechanism for this project is being developed so that there will be no incentive to the operator to encourage commuting by car. The emphasis of the payment mechanism will be on efficient management of the road, to provide a good service for buses and heavy goods vehicles, with scope for additional payments to reward a good safety record. We will consider whether it would be appropriate to take forward further DBFO projects in the context of the review of trunk roads in England, which is currently underway.

Question 29/6/98 - Archie Norman (Conservative, Tunbridge Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 1998, Official Report, column 442, what compensation has been paid to the four consortiums which tendered for the Weald and Downland DBFO project.

Answer - Glenda Jackson (Labour, Hampstead and Highgate): The claims from the tenderers for the cancelled Weald and Downland DBFO project raised a number of detailed issues which will take some time finally to resolve. In the meantime, interim payments of £1.3 million (excluding VAT) have been made.

Question 15/12/98 - Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat, Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is in respect of the maintenance of de-trunked roads, where that maintenance is currently subject to a DBFO agreement.

Answer - Glenda Jackson (Labour, Hampstead and Highgate): The A30/35 Exeter to Bere Regis project is the only DBFO project affected by de-trunking proposals. The Highways Agency will discuss the implications of de-trunking this road with all the interested parties, to ensure that it continues to be maintained to proper standards.

Question 15/12/1998 - Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat, Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what formula he will apply to determine the funding to be transferred to highway authorities in respect of de-trunked roads.

Answer - Glenda Jackson (Labour, Hampstead and Highgate): My right honourable friend the Minister of Transport has made it clear that there will be a fair re-allocation of resources to reflect the financial responsibilities, which local authorities will assume when roads are actually de-trunked. The arrangements for achieving this objective are currently the subject of consultation with the Local Government Association.