My noble Friend Lord Adonis, Minister of State, Department for Transport, has made the following ministerial statement:

The policy of transferring to local highway authorities the responsibility for trunk roads that are considered to be non-core was first set out in the White Paper “A New Deal for Transport”, published in July 1998 (Cm 3950).

Following advice from the Highways Agency, informed by discussions with the relevant authorities, I have now decided that the following route section should be removed from the announced detrunking programme and remain part of the strategic road network, maintained and operated by the Highways Agency:

A40 in Gloucestershire (from M5 Junction 11 to the Herefordshire boundary).

I have written to the appropriate local highway authority, and relevant MPs, outlining the reasons for my decision. Copies of these letters have been placed in the Library of the House.