To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received representations from (a) the Lancashire Trust for Nature Conservation, (b) the Council for the Protection of Rural England and (c) Save the Heart of Lancashire, opposing the M65 extension.

Representations have been received from all three organisations. These will be put before the inspector at the public inquiry which is due to commence on 13 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the estimated indirect costs in improvements to connecting roads and other areas to be borne (a) by his Department and (b) Lancashire county council, as a result of the construction of the M65 extension.

The cost of alterations to side roads directly affected by the M65 Blackburn southern bypass is included in the capital cost of the scheme. Improvements to other local roads are a matter for the Lancashire county council, as highway authority, to consider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated direct cost to be borne by his Department of the M65 extension proposal.

The current estimate is £117 million for works and land.