§ 26. Mr. Houghtonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the reconstruction of the Halifax-Burnley road; what work is at present being done; and when he expects the work to be completed.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterPreparatory work has been carried out on a length of one mile, west of Hebden Bridge, but work is now suspended pending the installation of a water main by the Hebden Bridge Rural District Council. I expect that it will be possible to resume on this length next spring, and it will then proceed to completion. The whole length between Halifax and Todmorden will then have been reconstructed.
§ Mr. HoughtonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this work has been going on now for nearly seven years and that there has been constant interruption of traffic at various points on this busy through road all that time? Will he do everything to advance the completion of the work to as early a date as possible?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI share the hon. Member's desire to get this stretch completed, but I cannot do it until the water main has been installed.