§ 15. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many objections have been lodged to his plans for the first 53 miles of the proposed London-Yorkshire motorway; when hearings of these objections commenced; when the hearings will be completed; and when construction will start.
§ Mr. WatkinsonBy the end of the objection period I had received 136, of which a number are objections from owners and tenants in respect of the same piece of property. One of these has now been withdrawn. I am carefully considering all the representations made, and until I have completed this examination I am unable to answer my hon. Friend's further questions.
§ Mr. JohnsonCan my right hon. Friend give an assurance that when the grants have been decided and the contracts have been placed he will leave it to the engineers to carry out those contracts in the normal way and not compel them to refer to his Department for decisions upon minor matters of detail?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am afraid that that is rather a long way away at the moment.