HC Deb 25 February 1981 vol 999 c405W
Mr. Cormack

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the works commitment report for the M54 Telford motorway, Priorslee to Essington section, prepared by his Department.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

No. This document contains detailed estimates of cost which it would not be in the public interest to release because it might prejudice competitive tendering.

Mr. Cormack

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the appraisal documents prepared for him and taken into account by his Department in the decision to go ahead with the M54 Telford motorway, including any appraisal documents prepared by the Midland road construction unit or others in his Department assessing the alternative proposal for improving the A5 trunk road to dual carriageway submitted by the M54 joint action group together with a detailed plan.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

It is a long-standing convention that advice tendered to Ministers by their officials should not be made public and I see no justification for departing from it in this case. The reasons for my right hon. Friends' decisions have already been publicly announced.

Mr. Cormack

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the reasons for the M54 Telford motorway joining the M6 in the area where major reconstruction and repair works will be under way at the time that the M54 is opened to traffic.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We intend to complete the M6 works south of Essington before the M54 is open to traffic.

Mr. Cormack

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will review the timing of the construction of the M54 in the light of the difficulties with the structures of the M6 Midland links and the likely effect on traffic on the M6.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Work on the M6 Midland links structures should be substantially completed before the M54 is open. It has always been recognised that the M54 will lead to some increase in traffic on the M6 in the short term, but this would not justify delaying construction.