§ 11. Mr. Alasdair Mackenzieasked the Minister of Transport what are the criteria used to decide whether an urban motorway or an all-purpose road should be built.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThe most important considerations are the function of the road as part of the highway network, the nature and volume of the traffic it will carry, and the relative costs and benefits.
§ Mr. MackenzieDoes the Minister agree that it is far more costly to build all-purpose roads and then convert them into motorways? Does not he agree that it is better to build motorways in the first place?
§ Mr. FraserThere are conditions in which it is out of the question to build a motorway, and in which the needs of the traffic in the area are better served by building all-purpose roads. But there are other conditions in which the opposite conclusion would be reached by a consideration of the problems involved.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinCan the Minister say how many urban motorways he is planning to build in Ross and Cromarty?
§ Mr. FraserI cannot see the relevance of the hon. Gentleman's question, but in any case the answer is "None", because I am not responsible for roads in Ross and Cromarty.
§ Mr. LiptonWill my right hon. Friend take steps to ensure that these questions and answers are fully reported in the John o'Groats Journal?