§ 40. Mr. Coulsonasked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for the improvement of road communications between the port of Hull and the West Riding and Midlands.
§ Mr. MarplesA number of schemes are being carried out or are in an advanced state of preparation to improve sections of the Leeds to Hull route on A.63 between Leeds and the Great North Road and between Howden and Hull. As regards the routes to Sheffield and the Midlands, a census of traffic crossing Boothferry Bridge has recently been taken and the needs of the area will be reviewed in the light of the results.
§ Mr. CoulsonWhile thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he will give urgent consideration to the eventual extension of the Yorkshire motorway to link with the port of Hull? In the meantime, has he had time to study the report of his advisers as to the use of the part of the Hull-Barnsley railway line, which is now disused, in improving existing road communications?
§ Mr. MarplesI will look at that.
§ Mr. JegerWill the Minister give urgent attention to this question, as there is increasing difficulty at Boothferry Bridge owing to the nature of its construction and the congestion of traffic which occurs there, and this is of great 1029 inconvenience to the port of Goole, which is a neighbour of the port of Hull?
§ Mr. MarplesI will certainly look at that.