§ 42. Sir L. Ropnerasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement with regard to the progress which has been made in connection with the construction of the London-to-Yorkshire trunk road.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe draft scheme required by the Special Roads Act was published in the week beginning 19th September in respect of that part of the motorway which will run from the St. Albans by-pass to near Ashby 1843 St. Ledgers. The scheme in respect of the St. Albans by-pass will be published on the 21st of this month. I have appointed Sir Owen Williams and Sons as consulting engineers to prepare the engineering details of the road and to supervise the carrying out of the work which will be done by contract.
§ Sir L. RopnerCan my right hon. Friend say whether any progress, and, if so, how much, has been made with the Doncaster by-pass.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have nothing to add at present, but, as my hon. and gallant Friend knows, it is at the Doncaster by-pass that this Yorkshire motor road will end, and it is, in a sense, part of the scheme.
§ Mr. WadeCan the Minister give any indication when this London to Yorkshire road will be completed?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have published the scheme, and the statutory period for objections is now running. Clearly, until I know what the objections are—if any—to the proposed road. I should be very unwise to give a forecast.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeCan my right hon. Friend say whether he expects that there will be any substantial number of objections to the compulsory acquisition of land for this roadway, due to the very inadequate schemes of compensation which now prevail?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterMatters of the level of compensation are not, I think, for me to answer. So far as the question of objections is concerned, I must really wait until the statutory period is over before I can answer that.