§ 32 and 33. Mr. Purbrickasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (1) whether, in view of the large number of men and material being used in widening the main Uxbridge to Gerrards Cross Road, which is not of importance to the war effort, he will arrange for them to be better employed in war work;
(2) on what date he now expects to open to traffic the Uxbridge by-pass?
Sir A. SalterIt is expected that the road will be opened before the end of the year. I cannot agree that the work now in hand at the Western end is not of importance to the war effort.
§ Mr. PurbrickWill the right hon. Gentleman make personal inquiries into this matter, when he will see that this new work which is being done is quite unnecessary in connection with the other scheme? Will he also bear in mind that a few months ago we were told that the Uxbridge bye-pass road would be finished and opened in August—after work had been going on there for three years—and that now we are told it will not be opened till the end of the year?
Sir A. SalterIt is quite true that the earlier estimate of the time of completion proved to be too optimistic, owing to labour difficulties. I know the road quite well, and it is very nearly completed, and it is of real importance.