§ 34. Mr. Denzil Freethasked the Minister of Transport 'when he hopes to begin and to complete the Andover by-pass.
§ Mr. HayPreparatory work on this scheme is still at an early stage and it is too soon yet to say when it will be possible to start construction. Thereafter the work should take between eighteen months and two years to complete.
§ Mr. FreethIs my hon. Friend aware that his Ministry asked the county council to have contract drawings ready for a by-pass to be finished in December, 1961, and that plans for the purpose of acquiring the land were submitted to his Ministry on 11th March this year? Would it not be a good thing to press on with this? Why is there delay?
§ Mr. HayThe position is not quite as my hon. Friend says. I understand that recommendations from the county council about the proposed route have only just reached our divisional road engineer. They will be submitted to our headquarters. If they are satisfactory, we can publish a draft order, so showing the effect of the proposed route on side roads as quickly as we can.