§ 1. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he will take in the coming year to enlarge the road improvement programme in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. G. R. H. Nugent)We have already authorised substantial road improvements in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and I regret we have no funds available to increase them during the coming year.
§ Mr. SwinglerWhile thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for the very small mercies already granted, may I ask whether he is aware that the scheme of trunk road improvement is really urgent? Does he know that the Council of Newcastle-under-Lyme has just reiterated its extreme anxiety about the intolerable traffic conditions in the centre of the town? Cannot he now, if not for this year at any rate for next year, give the date for the trunk road improvement scheme, which is holding things up?
§ Mr. NugentI am afraid—and the hon. Gentleman already knows this—that I cannot yet give him the date. I would remind him that Newcastle-under-Lyme will next year have £330,000 of road works done there, and that this is a fairly good first instalment.