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Lyric Theatre, Wales

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what representations she has had concerning the adoption of a new lyric theatre for Wales as a successor scheme to the scheme for the Cardiff Bay opera house as a candidate for Millennium Commission funding; [22107]

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answers 21 and 22 March 1996]: This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

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TRANSPORT

Motorway Tolling

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consortiums he now expects to take part in the motorway tolling trials; when contracts for the trials will be signed; and when he expects the trials to begin. [22764]

Mr. Watts: Negotiations with consortiums invited to participate in the motorway tolling trials are continuing.

Highways Agency Budget

Sir Thomas Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the Highways Agency budget for 1996-97 is to be distributed between (a) regions and (b) individual schemes. [23082]

Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Thomas Arnold, dated 3 April 1996:


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London Underground

Mr. Deva: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the chairman of London Transport the stopping of Piccadilly line trains at Turnham Green. [23437]

Mr. Norris: Yes. I shall raise the matter at my next regular meeting with the chairman of London Transport.

Central Railway plc

Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has reached a decision on the application by Central Railway plc for directions under rule 12 of the Transport and Works (Applications and Objections Procedure) Rules granting waivers from compliance with certain application requirements in respect of the Central Railway project. [24954]

Mr. Watts: Yes. Having taken into account the views we have received from Members of Parliament, local planning authorities and others, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has decided to refuse Central Railway's applications for waiver directions under rule 12 of the Transport and Works (Applications and Objections Procedure) Rules, in so far as they relate to the provision of plans, sections and cross-sections of the works. Subject to further consideration of the scope of non-compliance, he is prepared to agree to partial waivers in respect of the serving of application documents on certain local planning authorities and other statutory bodies. He may also be prepared to waive full compliance with the rules relating to the placing of site notices, subject to being satisfied that persons affected would not be materially prejudiced by such a decision. My right hon. Friend's reasons for refusing waivers are set out in a letter sent today to Central Railway plc. Copies of the letter have been placed in the House of Commons Library and will be sent to all MPs with a constituency interest.

Newbury Bypass

Sir David Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the clearance work for the Newbury bypass. [25216]

Mr. Watts: The Highways Agency has completed the tree felling stage of the clearance work. A few trees remain on site, some of which harbour wildlife, which

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will not be disturbed until later in the year--in compliance with environmental legislation. Furthermore, some 85 per cent. of felled trees have been cleared from the site.

The sheriff has completed all necessary evictions of protesters from camps along the route.

Six tenders have been received for the main works contract and we expect to award the contract in the near future. Work will start towards the middle of the year with the aim of opening the bypass in the summer of 1998.

Crossrail

Mr. Marlow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the findings of the Montagu report on alternative funding of Crossrail before his further intentions for the future of the project are announced. [24280]

Mr. Norris: I have today placed the report in the Library, with the associated consultants' report on small-scale alternatives to Crossrail. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on the next steps.

Crash Tests

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 22 March, Official Report, column 388, (1) what representations he has received from (a) consumer groups and (b) car manufacturers and their representatives about how best to present the test results; [24451]

Mr. Norris: I have not received representations from, nor consulted, industry or consumer groups on how best to present the test results, although I have had some representations from industry that any procedure should be fair.

There have been discussions with vehicle manufacturers at official level on the test procedure. Manufacturers of car models tested are invited to witness the tests and are shown the results. If there are doubts over the validity of a test, a repeat test might be arranged.

The car models in the current test programme are: Fiat Punto, Ford Fiesta, Nissan Micra, Renault Clio, Rover 100, Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Polo. Their comparative performance will be identified in the report

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if the research findings show such comparisons to be meaningful and fair. It is the Department of Transport's responsibility to make the research results available to the public.

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