§ 5. Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Minister of Transport, in view of the present heavy volume of traffic passing through the City of Carlisle, and the need for the bypass road, if he will now bring forward the operational date for the starting of the Carlisle Bypass.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Stephen Swingler)We agree that a bypass is urgently needed. Our proposals for the route have been published and objections are now being considered. When the route is fixed we shall complete the remaining statutory procedures, including land acquisition, as quickly as possible. Until they are further advanced it is not possible to say when construction can start.
§ Mr. LewisWhile appreciating the difficulties of my hon. Friend, may I ask him to do all in his power to speed up the provision of this bypass, which is desperately needed for the northbound and southbound traffic?
§ Mr. SwinglerYes, we appreciate the urgent need. The processes required, especially the acquisition of land, are going forward as rapidly as possible.
§ Mr. PowellIs this one of the schemes which will fall victim to the £100 million worth of cuts in the road programme which was indicated yesterday? Is it the Minister's intention to make a statement about his personal position in view of his repeated assurances that the road programme would not be cut and the fact that his colleagues have now thrown him over?
§ Mr. SwinglerI do not know to what the right hon Gentleman is referring. Evidently he did not hear yesterday's statement very clearly. There was no reference to any £100 million cut in the road programme. Nevertheless, we are considering the revision of the programme in the light of the Chancellor's statement. We cannot say what its effect might be on any particular project.