HC Deb 02 May 1962 vol 658 cc1016-8
30. Sir B. Janner

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that some 50 miles of M.1 now in use were constructed by one contractor in nineteen months, why the completion of the motorway is to be split up into numerous small contracts to be spread over a period measured in years.

Mr. Marples

The extension of M.1 is not one of the five major projects to which I am giving highest priority in my programme.

We are however able to start on this work by stages as detailed preparation and funds permit. I hope to let contracts for the first 26 miles this summer. This length will be of considerable benefit to Leicester.

I expect to start construction of further lengths next year. We are pressing on with this programme as fast as we can.

Sir B. Janner

Is the Minister aware that it will come as a great shock to those who expected to have M.1 completed ten years ago to know that the right hon. Gentleman does not now consider it as a major project? Will he say why at this time he still feels that small contracts should be given, whereas it is a general and well-known economic practice that large contracts should be given for large stretches of road?

Mr. Marples

No. The question of what contracts should be let depends entirely on different circumstances. For example, there are the statutory processes which this House imposes upon the Minister, which may mean that he can get only fourteen miles of road at a time. Then, there is the question for the civil engineering consultants, who look at the land underneath, the quality of the land and the difficulties of building. There is a whole heap of questions, and it is not so simple as the hon. Gentleman makes out. Furthermore, Leicester has been very slow in deciding on the line of the road.

Sir C. Osborne

Will my right hon. Friend say to what point in Leicestershire these 26 miles will take the road, and when he will complete them if he starts in a year?

Mr. Marples

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that question on the Order Paper.

Mr. Strauss

While the problem may not be simple, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman would agree that it is far cheaper and a lesser burden on the Treasury if a road is completed in one stage by one contractor, rather than by slow stages and a number of contractors?

Mr. Marples

No, that is not so, because we have got precisely the same consulting engineer as we had on M.1, and he decided, after looking at this lay-out, that it would be better done this way.

31. Sir B. Janner

asked the Minister of Transport why tenders are being asked for only 7½miles out of the 86 miles required to complete M.1; and why three tenders are to be requested to build 18½miles of M.1 from Lutterworth to Markfield.

Mr. Marples

This is to enable a start to be made as soon as possible. The size of each contract has been fixed to secure economic engineering planning and the keenest contract competition.

Sir B. Janner

Is the Minister aware that this is a ridiculous position? He said a moment ago that this was due to the slowness of Leicester, but Leicester has been on his track for years, and he is at the present time playing about with the problem, which should be dealt with properly. Why does he not tackle it? Is he waiting for the next election to put in another 50 miles of road?

Mr. Marples

No, I do not think so. I am not waiting for the next election at all.