§ 7. Mr. P. Browneasked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for increasing alternative holiday traffic routes in Devon in 1962.
§ Mr. MarplesThe eighteen alternative holiday routes brought into use last year will again be available this year. Arrangements have also been made for two more alternative routes to be used if conditions in Exeter and Okehampton call for them.
§ Mr. BrowneMay I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the fact that during the past three years he has provided 1313 grants amounting to £73,000 to be devoted to alternative routes for holiday traffic? Will he bear in mind, however, that this is only a partial remedy and that what is wanted is a higher priority for new and improved traffic routes in the West Country? Will he promise the House that in the near future he will give a higher priority to the West Country, as he is getting on so well with his urban schemes?
§ Mr. MarplesI must ask my hon. Friend not to congratulate me—it is such an unusual occurrence that I find that I cannot bear it. My hon. Friend must not be surprised to know that each county in the United Kingdom considers that its own claim is vastly more important than the claim of any other county—Devon, Cornwall, Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire and all the other counties.