HC Deb 04 July 1962 vol 662 cc521-2
23. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Transport what sums are to be expended on the reconstruction and improvement of roads in the County of Durham contained in the road programme.

Mr. Marples

The estimated total expenditure on trunk road improvements costing over £ 100,000 each, in the geographical County of Durham— excluding the Tyneside conurbation area— is £ 6,840,000 in the next four to five years. This includes £ 5½ million for the Darlington by-pass motorway. The figure for classified roads in the years 1961-62 to 1964-65 inclusive is £ 1,567,000.

In addition, I expect that smaller schemes, costing in all approximately £ 248,000 on trunk roads and £ 640,000 on classified roads, will be authorised in the corresponding periods.

My future plans include the 20-mile Durham motorway, the cost of which will be very substantial.

Mr. Shinwell

In view of the transport needs of this area, more particularly because of the closure of branch railway lines and the indication by Dr. Beeching of the possibility of further closures, is not this a comparatively small amount? In view of the time which will elapse before this programme is implemented, would not the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of increasing the amount available?

Mr. Marples

It is not a comparatively small but a substantial amount. There are other hon. Members. on both sides of the House, who think that their areas are receiving less than that which the right hon. Gentleman has the honour to represent. In particular, his hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Cam-borne (Mr. Hayman) thinks that the North-East is getting more at the expense of the South-West. It is my difficult job to hold the balance among all these competing interests.

Mr. Shinwell

Does not the right hon. Gentleman take into account the population of the North-East as compared with the South-West? While no one desires to prevent the South-West from getting all that it is entitled to, surely the industrial needs of the North-East require greater priority.

Mr. Marples

I take into account not only the quantity of the population but the quality of the population and the varying desires and industrial needs in all parts of the country.