To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 1997, Official Report, column 255, if he will now instruct the Highways Agency to send a substantive reply to Mr. Chris Fisher of FLAME consequent on the publication of the accelerated review. [17346]

In my previous answer to my hon. Friend on 3 July 1997, Official Report, column 255, I said that the Highways Agency would reply once the outcome of the accelerated review was announced. In the event, the decision was to carry out a further review of the M25 widening scheme, that work is continuing and I would not wish to prejudice the outcome. The Highways Agency will give a substantive response to FLAME once that review has been completed. In the meantime FLAME's letter did raise some factual questions and I have asked the Highways Agency to respond to these issues directly to FLAME. A copy of the letter will be placed in the House Library.