Written question asked by Jerry Hayes (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 January 1996. It was answered by John Watts (Conservative) on Thursday, 18 January 1996 on behalf of the Department of Transport.

Dept of Transport

Question: How he intends to proceed with the Highway's Agency proposals for new agency arrangements for the management and maintenance of the motorway and trunk road network which were the subject of consultation last year.

Answer: Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he intends to proceed with the Highways Agency proposals for new agency arrangements for the management and maintenance of the motorway and trunk road network which were the subject of consultation last year. [10663] Mr. Watts: We intend to proceed on the lines proposed in the consultation. In general, we aim to establish new agencies whose size and coverage will be based on considerations of effective management and to enlarge competition by involving the public and private sectors with both tendering against a single common agreement. We are re-examining the proposed areas and timing of implementation in the light of the decision to increase the number of design, build, finance and operate schemes announced on 29 November. We have already announced our decision on the way forward in London. It was stated in the consultation document that we would continue putting in place new agency agreements for April 1996 where current agents were ceasing to exist, as in Avon and Humberside, or current private sector agencies were due for retendering, such as the term contracts in south and west London and consultancies for the midland links and Greater Manchester agencies. These are all proceeding to plan.

Secondary information