§ 45. Mr. Mawbyasked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that the A.38 Blue Linhay Hill to East Caton Cross Road Scheme, the Drumbridge to Chudleigh Knighton Bridge Road Scheme, and the Ashburton By-pass Scheme will not be delayed for more than six months under the Road Expenditure Programme; and whether he will now give the new starting date of each of these schemes.
§ Mr. SwinglerSubject to land acquisition being completed in time the new starting dates will be six months after the originally planned dates and will therefore be April, June and May, 1966, respectively.
§ Mr. MawbyI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for at least giving us the assurance that they will be held up for only six months. Will he and his right 1407 hon. Friend bear in mind that it could be a false economy if men and machines were idle as a result of this happening? Will he keep an eye on this matter?
§ Mr. SwinglerI have no evidence of any machinery or men being idle, and we shall proceed with this as rapidly as we can.