To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 February 1999, Official Report, column 8, for what reason he has not published the new criteria on noise reduction and ring-fenced annual budget for the Highways Agency before the start of the financial year 1999–2000; and when he expects to do so. [80519]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 22 March 1999, Official Report, columns 50–51, in which both criteria and the budget for noise mitigation measures were announced.