HC Deb 06 March 1963 vol 673 cc379-80
10. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of his proposals to spend over £5,000,000 in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire during the next five years, how much he estimates he will spend in Dorset.

Mr. Hay

In the three years 1962–63 to 1964–65 commitments of Exchequer funds on major improvements of trunk and classified roads in Dorset are expected to be about £440,000. I cannot at this stage give estimates for later years.

Mr. Digby

Are not these figures very much smaller for Dorset than they are for the other counties? Is it not depressing for Dorset people that they always seem to be bottom of the list for road improvements and top of Dr. Beeching's list for proposed rail closures?

Mr. Hay

No, Sir. As I think the House realises, the funds which we have available for road improvements are distributed on the basis of the traffic need. The other counties which he has in mind have received a larger share, and will receive a larger share, but their traffic problems are greater.

Mr. Barnett

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, with the development of the Winfrith Heath Atomic Energy Station and the continuing increase in the holiday trade, a great strain is placed particularly on holiday roads in Dorset and along the coast? Will he bear this in mind in bringing forward positive proposals.

Mr. Hay

These factors are always borne in mind, but we have only a very limited amount of money available to do a large amount of work. We must have some system of priorities, and the system is based on the traffic needs in the area concerned.

Mr. F. Noel-Baker

Whatever may be the complaints of Dorset, the hon. Gentleman should not get away with the idea that Wiltshire is satisfied with the amount of money being spent on its roads—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We could go all round England on that basis.