§ 32. Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Transport if he will now reconsider the building of a Humber bridge, so as to open up many of the Eastern Counties and provide an alternative north-south route.
§ Mr. SwinglerI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, East (Commander Pursey) on 9th December.
§ Mr. WallDoes that reply mean that the Minister is considering the Humber bridge as a national project? Is he aware that the total volume of goods passing through Hull Docks is over £500 million a year and that £17 million has been spent on their modernisation? In view of the fact that it is thought that the bridge will cost far less than the original estimate, does he not agree that it ranks for consideration as a national rather than a regional project?
§ Mr. SwinglerIt is a considerable project, and that is why it will inevitably take some time to consider all the traffic and costs figures which the Humber Bridge Board has supplied. But we take the matter very seriously. It is a project which may have tremendous potentiality. We will speed up the study as quickly as possible and let the Board and hon. Members know the results of our study as soon as possible.
Mr. Gresham CookeWould the hon. Member discuss with the Minister of Power my suggestion that the cost of this highway might be shared between the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Power by building across the Humber a barrage by which electricity could be generated? Traffic could be carried on top of the barrage. Would he discuss that with the Minister of Power?
§ Mr. SwinglerWe are always glad to share the cost of these enormously expensive projects with someone else. I will certainly have a word with the Minister of Power about it.