§ 27 and 28. Mr. Holtasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) if he will inquire into the practicability by tunnelling and road surface heating of rebuilding the trunk road, A.6, over Shap to motorway standards, and so connecting Penrith to the northern end of the Birmingham-Lancaster motorway;
(2) if, in view of the damage to the countryside which will be caused by the building of a motorway through the Lune Valley, he will state the relative costs per mile of this project and the 966 conversion of the Shap A.6 trunk road to motorway standards.
§ Mr. NugentMy right hon. Friend is proceeding with his consideration of a motorway extension from the Lancaster by-pass to Penrith. All the various possibilities, including relative costs and the effect on amenities, will be taken into account.
§ Mr. HoltWhen the Minister has given this matter his full consideration will he make a long and full statement on the subject, as there is great concern among many people in the North at the suggestion that this motorway should go up through the Lune Valley rather than that the Shap Road should be developed into a motorway?
§ Mr. NugentI shall certainly take note of the hon. Member's statement and, in due course, when the review has been completed—and it will take some time—we will make a statement about it.