HC Deb 10 March 1965 vol 708 cc394-5
18. Mr. Charles Morrison

asked the Minister of Transport when he will publish the draft proposals for the M.4 Motorway.

30. Mr. Peter Emery

asked the Minister of Transport what further action he has taken in order to speed up the decision on the line of the M.4 motorway to be taken through Berkshire.

80. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Minister of Transport, when he now expects to announce the route and the date for commencing the construction of the rest of the M.4.

Mr. Tom Fraser

It is unlikely that construction of the Tormarton-Liddington section could start before 1967 because of the time required for the statutory processes. Apart from this there is nothing that I can usefully add at present to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Francis Noel-Baker) on 17th February.

Mr. Morrison

Can the right hon. Gentleman estimate when that section of the motorway might be completed? When he announces the direction proposals, will he announce a programme of improvements to feeder roads?

Mr. Fraser

I cannot say offhand when the section will be completed. My first concern is to get the line of the M.4 determined and then to get the work out to contract. I am sometimes criticised for allowing these motorway contracts to go out in bits and pieces—not that I have had responsibility for this for very long. As I see it, the responsibility of the Minister of Transport in a matter like this is to get the whole of the line determined as quickly as possible, and this is what I am endeavouring to do.

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