17. Mr. G. Wilsonasked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that the catering facilities planned on major motorways will be adequate to meet the needs of motorway users; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayYes, Sir. Service areas providing catering and other essential facilities are being opened at roughly 25-mile intervals on all major motorways. Two such areas are now in full operation on the M.1. Another will be completed at Strensham to coincide with the opening of the northern section of the Bristol-Birmingham Motorway now under construction.
We hope to invite tenders next month for the first of the three areas to be opened on the Birmingham-Preston Motorway; and later this year for the other two and for one to be established on the Medway Motor Road.
Mr. WilsonIs my hon. Friend satisfied with the service which is likely to be given by these stations and the 149 charges which will be made to the public?
§ Mr. HayYes, Sir. We have had very little complaint about the way in which these service areas are being conducted. Such complaint as has been made has been that there is not more of them. As I said in my Answer, this is a matter to which we are devoting a great deal of attention.