§ 31. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will include representatives of the Royal Institute of British Architects in his planning teams for the new motorways.
§ Mr. NugentFor the national motorways, my right hon. Friend already has the benefit of the expert advice of the Advisory Committee on the Landscape Treatment of Trunk Roads, some of whose members are architects. The Royal Fine Art Commission is also consulted about the principal architectural features of these roads, and consultant architects are appointed to collaborate in the design of the major bridges. These arrangements work well, and I do not think that anything further is required.
In the case of urban study groups the position remains as stated by my right hon. Friend in his reply to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger) on 29th April, 1959.
§ Dr. KingIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, although the planning of new motorways is primarily a matter for the road and traffic engineer, the architect has a contribution to make in regard to the preservation of urban and rural amenities, good design and general planning? Will he give further consideration 967 to the request of architects that representatives should be appointed on the various urban motorway planning groups?
§ Mr. NugentI agree with the hon. Member that we should have full regard to the preservation of amenities, and when hon. Members and the whole community see the new motorway to Birmingham I think that they will agree that we have been successful in that. We have two architects on the Advisory Committee on the Landscape Treatment of Trunk Roads, and I think that we have fully taken account of just those considerations mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.