40. Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Minister of Transport when he will be able to announce details of the line of the Witham and the Kelvedon by-passes.
§ Mr. J. HayThe lines of the Kelvedon and Witham By-passes were established by Orders made in 1939 and 1958 respectively. A draft Order to provide for a short extension of Witham By-pass was published on 17th June last.
Mr. HarrisonI thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but when will something be done about building the road?
§ Mr. HayThat was not the question I was originally asked. I was asked when I would be able to announce details of the line. We have had one of the lines since 1939.
§ Mr. John HallCan my hon. Friend say whether the delay in starting these by-passes, the Andover By-pass and, even more important, the High Wycombe By-pass, is due to the fact that the cost of existing schemes has proved so much greater than the estimates that there is no money left to start new schemes?
§ Mr. HayNo, it is not. So many people want to do so much work in so short a time that we have not the money to do all of it at once.
§ Mr. BennIn view of the fact that the authorisations this year are lower than in previous years and that we are told that there is to be a standstill in Government expenditure, is the programme likely to be delayed still further?
§ Mr. HayI expect that the hon. Member will wish to elaborate that point in the debate which we are to have tomorrow.