§ 51. Mr. Jayasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why he has omitted the Severn Bridge and Tyne Tunnel from the list of road schemes to be started at an early date.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterBecause these are very expensive schemes which I cannot fit into the earlier years of the programme.
§ Mr. JayIs not the Minister aware that first priority was given to both the Severn Bridge and the Tyne Tunnel schemes as early as 1944 and 1945 by the Coalition Government as well as the Labour Government and that a great deal of preparatory work was done? It was always contemplated that those schemes would go ahead at an early date as soon as resources were available.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not think the right hon. Member ought to quarrel with us for not providing everything that could desirably be done in four years when his Government did precious little in six years.
§ Mr. JayDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that private firms were induced to set up new factories in South Wales in the immediate post-war years by an undertaking—which had the authority of the Coalition Government—that this scheme would go ahead at an early date? Does not this almost amount to a breach of public faith?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIf any undertaking were given, there were many years in which such an undertaking could be carried out by our predecessors. The right hon. Member must appreciate that one is dealing with a great many years of arrears of work of this kind. It is necessary to sort out the priorities on the sort of considerations, which are too long to explain now, but which I explained in my statement on 2nd February.
§ Mr. P. WilliamsDoes the answer of my right hon. Friend mean that the Tyne Tunnel project cannot be launched until the whole scheme can be authorised? Could he not authorise construction of some of the lead-in roads for the Tyne Tunnel?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am prepared to consider suggestions of that kind. All my answer means at the moment is that it is not possible to forecast authorisation during the earlier years of the programme of which I gave details.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that unless the Tyne Tunnel project, which is the essential part of a much wider scheme of road development, can go forward much more quickly, a whole series of other projects is held up?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes, of course, part of the problem one has to face in adjusting the order of projects is that one has to fit them in with other projects in the districts.
§ Mr. CallaghanCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us why, in adjusting the programme, the Tyne Tunnel and the Severn Bridge slipped from the position of top priority? What is the reason for this almost studied neglect of South Wales in transport matters? Is it due to political prejudice—because the Government cannot win any seats in South Wales?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIf the hon. Member has that idea seriously in mind, I think he would be rapidly disabused by a study of the large amount of work it is proposed to carry out in the early years in South Wales.