HC Deb 10 March 1954 vol 524 cc2236-7
47. Mr. D. Jones

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will indicate on what schemes and in which administrative areas of his northeast division the sum of over £1 million of Exchequer money is being spent.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I regret that I cannot very well give this information until the necessary consultations with local highway authorities have been completed and the schemes finally selected.

Mr. Jones

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the information which he gave on 15th February refers to the East and West Riding of Yorkshire, and that in the North Riding, in Durham and in Northumberland there is not a single major scheme in the three-year programme? What is he going to do about it?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

It depends on what one regards as a major scheme. Question No. 56 relates to my receiving a deputation from the area, and I shall be glad to argue it out with them.

56. Mr. D. Jones

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he proposes to accede to the request of highway authorities in the north-east division of his Department, to see the deputation which they have asked him to meet.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As soon as possible, Sir.

Mr. Jones

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in addition to the local authorities in Durham, an application has been made to him since 20th January to receive some North-Eastern M.P.S to discuss the same problem, and that they are still awaiting a reply?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

That is certainly not true. If I received every deputation which wants to talk to me about roads, I should be doing nothing else. However, I am in touch with the hon. Members concerned and I shall be glad to receive a deputation from the North-Eastern area—I hope it will be one deputation instead of the three suggested—as soon as that can possibly be arranged.

Mr. H. Morrison

In view of the bad and mischievous activities of the Minister in a number of directions—

Mr. Nabarro

Nothing of the sort.

Mr. Morrison

—would it not be in the public interest if he would confine himself to receiving deputations?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

If the right hon. Gentleman and his colleagues had listened as patiently to the views of the public as I have done since being Minister, we would not have been in the mess in which they left us.