HC Deb 25 January 1961 vol 633 cc152-3
33. Mr. Sydney Irving

asked the Minister of Transport when he anticipates that work can commence on the by-pass at Swanley on the A.20.

Mr. Hay

I hope that work on this by-pass will commence next year.

Mr. Irving

While thanking the Minister for his Answer, may I ask whether he will give an assurance, in view of the very serious accident rate on this road, and the fact that it is one of the five worst bottlenecks in the country, that whatever economies may be necessary this year this project will not be among them?

Mr. Hay

This is not a problem of economy, but is another reflection of the problem I mentioned in reply to an earlier Question: that we are obliged by Parliament to go through certain statutory processes which inevitably take time to complete.