§ 3. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Transport if he will increase the amount of major road building which he has permitted to Hampshire County Council in the current programme.
§ The Minister of Transport (Mr. Ernest Marples)The current programme of major improvement schemes for classified roads in Hampshire has been recently increased from £163,000 to £280,000. Grants amounting to £189,000 have been or will shortly he issued to the county council.
§ Dr. KingIs the Minister aware that Hampshire County Council, which has the plans, the men and the machines to get on with the job of dealing with the most urgent parts of Hampshire's road programme, is deeply disappointed at the inadequacy of the present programme, in spite of the increase, and has asked Hampshire Members of Parliament to make representations to him? Will he consent to meeting Hampshire Members of Parliament to discuss this urgent problem?
§ Mr. MarplesI will certainly meet a deputation of Members of Parliament from Hampshire, but since the hon. Gentleman tabled his Question we have increased the programme by £120,000, which, based on an original programme of £163,000, is an increase of 73 per cent. I had hoped that the hon. Gentleman would be most grateful for that.