Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

2005

Question 10/2/05 - Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the contract between the Highways Agency and Highway Services (UK) Ltd. will allow for unforeseen additional works to be carried out; and if he will make a statement. [215734]

Mr. Jamieson: My Department does not have a contract with the company mentioned but the M40 DBFO contract is with UK Highways (M40) Ltd. All my Department's DBFO contracts make provision for additional works and other additional services. Where my Department through its highways agency proposes additional works to be carried out it notifies the DBFO Company of such an intention by means of an additional works notice:

• The additional works notice includes a description and/or specification of the additional works.
• The specification should include the time by which the proposed additional works are to be completed.
• The additional works notice should specify the additional works services (if any), which the Secretary of State requires the DBFO Co. to perform in respect of the additional works.
• The additional works notice should also specify the time by which any comments from the DBFO Company on the contents of the additional works notice must be received.

Question 10/2/05 - Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the contract between the Highways Agency and Highway Services (UK) Ltd. allows for changes to be made to the per vehicle charge. [215735]

Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State does not have a contract with the company mentioned but the M40 DBFO contract is with UK Highways (M40) Ltd. The shadow tolls payments in the 30-year contract between the Secretary of State and UK Highways (M40) Ltd. are calculated annually and indexed to protect the contractors against inflation using the retail price index as the basic factor. Inevitably this index will have performed slightly differently to the estimates made in 1996, but we are confident that the variations are modest.

A detailed reconciliation of the outturn figures against forecast is proposed for 2006 and it will revisit the value for money calculations made for the life of the contract.

The actual payments are reviewed at the end of each financial year and the amount is recalculated using the traffic flow for the past 12 months. A recovery or additional payment is then made.

Question 10/2/05 - Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision he has made to allow for the review of the contract between the Highways Agency and Highway Services (UK) Ltd. [215736]

Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State does not have any contract with the company mentioned but the M40 DBFO contract is with UK Highways (M40) Ltd. Performance of the contract is reviewed on an ongoing basis but there are no provisions for formal contract review.

Question 10/2/05 - Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how environmental objectives and criteria were dealt with in the contract between the Highways Agency and Highway Services (UK) Ltd; and if he will make a statement. [215737]

Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State does not have any contract with the company mentioned but the M40 DBFO contract is with UK Highways (M40) Limited. The contract required the company to incorporate into the construction all of the environmental features included in the approved design. The attached extract from the Design, Build, Finance and Operate Contract between the Secretary of State for Transport and UK Highways (M40) Ltd. details further general and specific environmental terms.

"Core Operation and Maintenance Requirements

In the design, planning and execution of all works and functions associated with the operation and maintenance of the Project Facilities, the DBFO Co. shall take all such action and do all such things (including, without limitation, organising itself, adopting measures and standards, executing procedures, including inspection procedures and safety patrols, and engaging and managing contractors, agents and employees) as will and in such manner as will secure risk of adverse effects on the environment and on the amenity enjoyed by the owners and occupiers of land adjacent to the Project Road and to adjoining roads and facilities is minimised.

Scheme Specific Core Operation and Maintenance Requirements

The DBFO Co. shall cultivate and maintain the landscaped areas of the Project Road so as to enhance the appearance and aesthetic quality of the Project Road and to mitigate its adverse environmental effects.

The DBFO Co. shall operate and maintain the Site and the Operation and Maintenance Adjacent Areas so as to enhance nature conservation."

Question 28/11/05 - Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) why the ministerial commitment to resurface noisy concrete surfaces in relation to the A417/419 Swindon to Gloucester road has been dropped; whether this was a uniform decision for all the roads listed in the original decision; and whether the Government will consider (a) new claims for blight from noise and (b) further remedial measures in relation to the A417/419; [32507]

(2) whether the A417/419 Swindon to Gloucester road will be resurfaced in the normal maintenance schedule; and whether the design, build, finance, operate provider will be responsible for the costs. [32508]

Dr. Ladyman: Following detailed scrutiny of departmental and the Highways Agency's budgets, Ministers agreed that the resurfacing of roads ahead of a maintenance need, for noise alleviation reasons, would not be allocated funding. This was a uniform decision across the entire motorway and trunk road network in England and is now the position up to 2007-08.
The Government cannot consider new claims for blight from noise as the noise assessments on which original blight claims were based, assumed a worst case and any noise insulation or compensation has already been provided on that basis.
While the Highways Agency will continue to consider remedial measures, these will have to take their turn in the regional priorities for trunk road improvement schemes.

The A417/A419 will be re-surfaced when maintenance need dictates and, if this is during the life of the DBFO contract, then the DBFO company will carry out the work and be responsible for the costs.

Question 06/12/05 - Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is responsible for the maintenance of the A417 between Cirencester and Gloucester. [34998]

Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency is responsible for the A417 between Cirencester and Gloucester, which is managed on their behalf, as a Design, Build, Finance and Operate contract, by Road Management Services (Gloucester) Limited.