§ 16. Mr. Priorasked the Minister of Transport if he will make a report setting out his proposals over the next five years for improving road communications between the East Coast ports and London and the Midlands.
§ Mr. MarplesThe information asked for has already been given in the five years' programme of trunk road major improvements for the country as a whole which I announced last year. I hope shortly to announce an extension of this programme which will include further improvement schemes between the places referred to.
§ Mr. PriorIn that case will my right hon. Friend consider giving this greater publicity, because if we are to have closures of railway lines in East Anglia resulting from the Beeching Report, the public ought to be able to assess the position of road communications so that they can make up their minds whether railways ought to be closed or not?
§ Mr. MarplesThere are two distinct points here. The first is what will be the general improvement in road communications, and the second is what particular improvement will take place when a closure is proposed by the Railways Board? When a proposal comes to the Railways Board to close a line, my Divisional Road Engineer will look at alter- 422 native road services and report. That will be separate from the general road programmes in that area.
§ Mr. BullardWith regard to communications between East Coast ports and the Midlands—and I would add the North—will my right hon. Friend pay particular attention to the urgent necessity for a by-pass at King's Lynn?
§ Mr. MarplesI should like notice of that question. I am aware of the importance of King's Lynn.