§ 23. Mr. Hefferasked the Minister of Transport when a spur from the M.6 motorway to Liverpool is to be included in the roads programme.
§ Mr. Tom FraserCommunications between Liverpool and the M.6 are already being greatly improved by the dualling of the A.580; the Lancashire County Council's proposals for a new South Lancashire motorway are being 1314 actively considered. But I cannot say when any such scheme could be included in the programme.
§ Mr. HefferDoes my right hon. Friend recognise that, while we appreciate the efforts that are being made, nevertheless such a spur as is suggested is really essential if we are to develop our ports for a real export drive and develop the economic potentialities of the region?
§ Mr. FraserA great deal of money is now being spent on improving the highways in this area, in particular on the A.580 which I mentioned. I appreciate, however, that it is not enough and that further improvements will require to be made. That is why the studies to which I referred are being undertaken.
§ Mr. TilneyWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the fact that while the branch and other roads he mentioned are important, other roads are not anything like adequate enough? Will he do his utmost to see that a proper link with the M.6 is brought into being?
§ Mr. FraserI will do my best within the limits of the resources available to me. I fully appreciate that what is being done is not enough, but I have a fairly heavy programme and it is increasing at the rate of 14 per cent. each year. I therefore cannot undertake to increase it now. However, as soon as resources become available, I would like to be able to do so. This is one of the areas in which there is much need for better and improved highways.
§ Mr. PowellThe right hon. Gentleman has just said that he could not undertake to increase this programme. Why did his party undertake to increase it when they met the electors last October?
§ Mr. FraserThe right hon. Gentleman likes asking highly charged political questions. May I, in return, ask him a question—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Perhaps I can assist. I pointed out yesterday that it is troublesome enough getting questions asked of Ministers and answered. We cannot have Ministers asking questions. Mr. Heffer for the next Question.
§ Mr. SpeakerIf the Minister wants to answer the question he has been asked he may do so, beyond asking a further question.
§ Mr. FraserIn answering, might I say that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) is a little mistaken?
§ Mr. FraserI am answering his question and not asking another one. The right hon. Gentleman is mistaken in saying that we were going greatly to increase the roads programme. We said that we would increase it, but what I would like him to bear in mind is that he, together with his right hon. Friends, bequeathed to me a programme which was to be financed out of a 4 per cent. growth in the economy, but they did not leave me the growth in the economy with which to carry it out.