Severn Bridge

HC Deb 01 June 1960 vol 624 cc1418-20

18. Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Minister of Transport what acreage of land has been so far acquired as working spaces for the construction of the Severn Bridge.

Mr. Marples

No land has yet been acquired but negotiations are in progress.

Mr. Edwards

Is it not about time that the Minister took a firm decision about this matter? It has been shilly-shallying about for years. As the right hon. Gentleman's party has been in power for nine years, we should surely get better progress than this.

Mr. Marples

The district valuer is now negotiating. This is a question of compromise between the rights of the individual and the speed of building.

19. Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the recent announcement by the Government about the date for the completion of the Severn Bridge, whether he will now make a statement about the date for the commencement of the building of the bridge.

Mr. Marples

The Government have not made such an announcement. As regards the start of work on the Severn Bridge, I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Wednesday, 23rd March, 1960, to which I have nothing to add.

Mr. Edwards

Is it not amazing that Lord Brecon, one of the members of the Government, should make a statement that the bridge is to be completed by 1966, while the Minister himself can make no statement about the date of commencement? When are we to have an end to this confusion?

Mr. Marples

I do not think there is any confusion. I think the question was asked at a meeting held by a junior chamber of commerce and Lord Brecon gave his personal opinion.

23. Mr. Loughlin

asked the Minister of Transport how many county authorities have requested him to meet a deputation to discuss the proposed Severn Bridge; and what replies he gave.

Mr. Marples

The only request of this kind I have received was from the Negotiating Committee on the Severn Bridge, which includes in its membership the County Councils of Gloucester, Monmouth and Glamorgan. The Committee's principal concern was the date when work on the bridge was expected to begin. It was explained that the date would depend on completing the acquisition of land and on the necessary funds being available. This being so, I did not feel justified in putting the Committee to the inconvenience of coming to London to see me.

Mr. Loughlin

Is the Minister aware that it is much to the advantage of everybody to have completely frank consultation with interested parties in the Severn Bridge project? Is he also aware that the authorities on both sides of the bridge are very concerned about his reluctance to name a date for the commencement of the scheme, and will he now give a date?

Mr. Marples

I cannot name the date for the commencement of the scheme, because we have not yet got the land.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the local authorities which had a conference on Friday have, over the last three years, brought pressure on his Department? Surely, he can give a helpful conference of that sort better hope than he is now giving?

Mr. Marples

I think that, rather unusually for him, the right hon. Gentleman is exaggerating, because in this case the district valuer is engaged actively in negotiations, and he cannot move faster because he has to be reasonably fair to those people whose land he is taking.