To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedure for conducting cost-benefit analysis of an on-line solution was adopted by his Department when considering the Western avenue A40 junction improvement at Long lane, Hillingdon; and if he will place details in the Library.

[holding answer 20 May 1988]:Both the Department's published scheme and the on-line alternative, which was put forward at the public inquiry into the proposals, were evaluated using COBA9, a computer-based system for the cost-benefit analysis of road schemes. Copies of relevant documents from the public inquiry are being placed in the Library.