§ 20. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that the London-South Wales Motorway, which is urgently required on traffic grounds and is one of his five major projects, has a sufficiently high priority in the road programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayYes, Sir. In deciding the priorities of particular schemes, we have to take account of the needs of traffic over the whole country. The South Wales Motorway is being built in stages concentrating first on those parts where the traffic needs are greatest. Construction of the Maidenhead by-pass and the Thames Bridge is already well advanced; we expect work on the Chiswick-SloughMaidenhead section and on the Severn Bridge to begin shortly.
§ Mr. GowerWill account be taken of the fact that this road, when completed, will bring relief to the two alternative routes which now exist and will also bring tremendous economic benefits not only to South Wales but to the southwest of England, too?
§ Mr. HayI think that my hon. Friend heard the reply which I gave a few moments ago to the Question about the M.1. We are quite confident that, if we get the London-South Wales motorway built, the same sort of results will appear from it in a very short time as have appeared in connection with the M.1.