Member

With the ORR there is obviously a focus on rail rather than roads. There is a bit on roads, but I am not sure it has done the best job in managing National Highways. Indeed, the Lower Thames Crossing was taken away from National Highways, and it was taken back into the department. A new Bill has been tabled in the Commons, the Highways (Financing) Bill, which will allow toll roads and introduce the RAB model. When I was an MP, I was delighted when I managed to fight a toll road on the A14 by persuading my noble friend Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, when he was Prime Minister, that to get to Felixstowe you could use only the A14; so, there was no toll on that. However, we will have that debate another time. We have other ways of helping Parliament to understand whether it is a matter for the National Audit Office or similar.