§ 33. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will adopt a national road plan for road improvement works throughout Scotland; and if he will list priority improvement schemes within the national plan.
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteIn his statement of 28th July my right hon. Friend indicated the Government's plans for road expenditure in Scotland in the next few years and named the principal projects which would receive priority.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is growing anxiety among Scottish local authorities and many other people generally in Scotland regarding the lack of a national road plan? Is he aware that many people think that the Secretary of State's programme is merely nibbling at the problem? Could not the Secretary of State look at the picture as a whole and decide on priorities after having arrived at a plan for Scotland? The priorities should cover the roads on which an increasing number of accidents and loss of life are taking place, and the many roads where the volume of traffic carried today makes them unsuitable to serve the purpose for which they were originally intended.
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteIf the hon. Gentleman will look at my right hon. Friend's previous reply, he will see that it showed a very substantial increase of expenditure and indicated the roads to which priority would be given. We must keep a certain degree of flexibility.
§ Mr. ManuelOn a point of order. Owing to the most unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall take an early opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment.