HC Deb 14 July 1954 vol 530 cc455-7
38. Mr. Callaghan

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many schemes of road improvement were submitted to him by the Glamorgan County Council for 1954–55; and how many he has sanctioned.

39. Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of schemes of road improvement, and the estimated cost thereof submitted to him by the Glamorgan County Council; and the number of schemes and the estimated cost thereof which have been sanctioned in the current financial year.

Mr. Molson

The Glamorgan County Council submitted 77 schemes, estimated to cost £1,063,000, of which my right hon. Friend has approved three estimated to cost £9,000. Two further schemes costing some £4,200 (of which £2,850 is to be paid by way of grant) put forward direct by claiming authorities for Glamorganshire, have also been accepted for grant. I would also remind the hon. Member of the Neath by-pass and the Port Talbot by-pass included in the first three years of the present road programme and estimated to cost together nearly £4 million.

Mr. Callaghan

Will the hon. Gentleman remember that there is a special case for Glamorgan because of the poverty of the 1930s which has left behind a black-log of road schemes which is probably unequalled in any other part of the country? Will the hon. Gentleman receive a deputation from the Glamorgan County Council, which has communicated with all Welsh Members on this matter?

Mr. Molson

It is extraordinary how many counties are able to produce special claims for special consideration. It is largely because of the special circumstances that Glamorgan obtained such a large share of the expenditure on trunk roads.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that this was a development area and that some hundreds of factories have been built which employ 100,000 people and that the whole place is highly congested? Will he look at the matter again so that this development area can be free from the stanglehold of an inadequate transport system?

Mr. Molson

All that the right hon. Gentleman has said shows how fully aware are the Government of the need for help for Glamorgan. I am only too willing to look into this matter once more, without, of course, giving any undertaking.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend whether he is prepared to receive a deputation of Glamorgan Members to discuss the matter?

Mr. Molson

I will certainly pass that request to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Does my hon. Friend agree that the number of schemes which have been approved by him is very many more than the number which was approved by the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) when he occupied a similar office?

Mr. Callaghan

Is the Minister aware that there is probably less road work going on in Glamorgan and in South Wales generally today than at almost any time since 1946? Is it not about time that the much-vaunted road improvement programme was put into effect?

Mr. Molson

We have committed ourselves to more work today than there has been at any time since before the war.

41. Mr. P. Morris

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why approval has been given for only three out of 66 minor road schemes in the county of Glamorgan; if he is aware of the urgency of the 11 major schemes, details of which have already been sent him; and if he will give further consideration to the council's request for larger sanctions with a view to overtaking arrears.

Mr. Molson

The allocation that my right hon. Friend is able to make to small road schemes in Glamorgan has to have relation to the funds at his disposal and the many competing claims on them. I know of the urgency of the 11 larger schemes and will bear them in mind, but I regret that we are unable to allocate further funds to Glamorgan at present.

Mr. Morris

While I accept that basis. will the Minister tell his right hon. Friend that, in view of the highly-industrialised nature of the county of Glamorgan and the serious arrears there, something must be done immediately if we are to maintain a mobile transport system in that part of the country?