3rd Special Report - Operation Stack: Government response to the Committee's First Report of Session 2016–17

This is the government's response, published 26 July 2016.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government states that it is progressing the new lorry area at Stanford West, and says it agrees with several of the Committee's recommendations on the appraisal of the scheme, while stating that a single site lorry area "remains the only viable solution".

• On the business case, it says the Department for Transport "is following the HM Treasury Green Book" and its own guidance, including Gateway reviews, a 5-part business case and costs over a 60-year appraisal period.
• It agrees that careful consideration of the cost-benefit ratios of alternatives should be part of its appraisal, but says a lorry area was "the best performing option" following evaluation by Highways England.
• It agrees with the Committee on assessing environmental and social costs. Highways England will "shortly begin a public engagement process" setting out the design, operation and impacts of the proposed site.
• It says the proposal "is not being developed in isolation", and that capacity is intended to be available on the site "by summer 2017".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error