§ 26. Mr. W. T. Rodgersasked the Minister of Transport what estimates are now available of the likely costs of implementing fully the recommendations of the Buchanan Report over the period of the next 25 years.
§ Mr. MarplesExtensive urban renewal and road improvements are going to be necessary in the years ahead. It is not possible to estimate the extra cost of carrying this out in accordance with the planning concepts advocated in the Buchanan Report.
§ Mr. RodgersI appreciate the impossibility of giving a comprehensive figure over an extensive period but may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to confirm what the Minister of Housing and Local Government said on Monday evening, namely, that no major reconstruction will take place on the lines of the Buchanan Report within the next four years? Further, does the right hon. 364 Gentleman recall that no provision was made in last December's White Paper for any major reconstruction on the lines of the Buchanan Report?
§ Mr. MarplesIt is a fact of life that no action can be taken to implement Buchanan until we have had the results of the comprehensive land use transport surveys which are now in hand. They will form the basis of any decision, and until we have that information we cannot make any decisions.
§ Mr. RodgersDoes that answer imply that those towns which are already going ahead with extensive centre renewals will be asked to call a halt to their operations? If that is not the case, why cannot extra finance be made available to them if they want to carry out new and ambitious plans on the lines of Buchanan?
§ Mr. MarplesIt is no good talking about new and ambitious plans unless they are based upon the results of a comprehensive land use transport survey. We cannot do anything until we have had the results of these surveys.