§ 4. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he estimates that the A.1 road will be so far completed as to provide a first-class road link between the north and south.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe improvement of A1 between London and Newcastle will on present estimates cost about £40 million. It is one of the first priorities but must obviously be phased over a number of years. Since January, 1955, thirty-three schemes have been authorised at a total cost of £7 million, and of these four have been completed and a further fifteen are in progress.
§ Mr. RobertsCan the Minister give any idea when the complete section will have been fully covered?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe answer to that question is that A.1 takes priority over the northern section of the London to Yorkshire motorway, and we shall get on with the complete improvement of A.1 as quickly as we can.
§ Mr. ChetwyndWhat is the use of enabling motorists to fly more quickly to London, or to 20 miles outside, if they are to be held up for hours when they get there?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI agree with the hon. Member. That is why I attach such great importance to the clearance of bottlenecks.