§ 42 and 43. Mr. Mellishasked the Minister of Transport (1) what consideration he has given to the proposal for a £260 million ring road for the 461 London County Council area, to be built in 15 years; when he expects to approve the scheme; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether the estimated annual capital expenditure of £17 million on the proposed ring road for the London County Council area, whose estimated total cost is £260 million, will be in addition to the £10 million annual programme for London, which he has already approved.
§ Mr. MarplesI have not received any such proposal from the London County Council, but one of the purposes of the proposed London Traffic Survey is to enable schemes like this to be evaluated. The question of how such a project would be financed does not arise at present.
§ Mr. MellishThe Minister will be aware that the Conservative Party in London has said emphatically that such a scheme will be introduced by it if it is elected at the next London County Council elections. If such a scheme were implemented, it would have to be in addition to the £10 million a year which the Minister has already agreed. Is not this merely a case of sheer humbug on the part of the Tories of London?
§ Mr. MarplesI thought that the Tory Party in the London County Council had shown wisdom in a great number of matters.