To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what notional price per barrel of oil is used by her Department when determining whether new road schemes represent value for money. (224532)

[holding answer 6 October 2008]: Oil price assumptions are provided by BERR (Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) and the Department for Transport has released guidance that uses the latest (May 2008) BERR central oil price figures to produce fuel price forecasts used in highway scheme appraisal.

Central oil prices are projected to fall back from today's level to $65 in 2010 (2007 prices) before gradually rising again to $75 (2007 prices) in 2030. These correspond to nominal prices of $71 (in 2010) to $140 (in 2030).