HC Deb 05 June 1957 vol 571 cc1242-3
38. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has considered the plan submitted to Her Majesty's Government by the British Road Federation for the faster building of motorways; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Watkinson

I am most anxious to speed up the constructional work on the motor road programme which should start early next year. I am having discussions with the interests involved and will see that the views of the British Road Federation are taken into account.

Mr. Johnson

May I ask my right hon. Friend if he is aware that the plan I have in mind deals mainly with finance, and I think that it was addressed in the first instance to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, but it is none the less most important because its adoption would give him a much freer hand when pressing on with the many schemes that he has in mind?

Mr. Watkinson

I do not agree with that at all. The plan I have in mind is that it is my job to get the roads built as quickly as possible; and the question of finance does not enter into that particular problem.