§ 20. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Minister of Transport what sum of money was spent on trunk roads in Dorset in the last financial year; and what sum of money is estimated to be spent in the current year.
§ Mr. SwinglerIn the last financial year, some £43,800 were spent on major improvements and £106,900 on maintenance and minor improvements. Estimated expenditure for the current financial year is some £69,200 on major improvements and £120,800 on maintenance and minor improvements.
§ Mr. KingIs not the principal effect of those figures the fact that when tourist traffic is at its height there will be a complete snarl-up of traffic on the main Dorset roads? Is not the programme quite inadequate?
§ Mr. SwinglerThe main point about the figures is that there has been a substantial increase in expenditure on major and minor improvements and maintenance. We are not saying that the programme is ideal, but Dorset has a rather small mileage of trunk roads for which my right hon. Friend is responsible. We hope to continue the progress which we are making.
§ Mr. Wingfield DigbyIn view of the importance of Dorset, as witnessed by the fact that two Miss Worlds in succession have been drawn from Dorset, are we not entitled to better communications with the rest of the country?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am not sure what that has to do with trunk roads.