§ 5. Lady Megan Lloyd Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of the road programme in Wales.
§ Mr. FinchProgress with roads in Wales is proceeding in accordance with the combined programme for England and Wales already announced by the Minister of Transport. My right hon. Friend will be considering this and its extension beyond 1968–69 with a view to making an announcement later this year on the Welsh road programme as a whole.
§ Lady Megan Lloyd GeorgeWill the hon. Gentleman urge the Secretary of State to undertake, as a matter of urgency, a review of the road programme in Wales, having particular regard to areas where rail closures have taken place, and to areas like West Wales where opportunities for industrial development are being seriously prejudiced by a lack of modern and efficient transport facilities?
§ Mr. FinchMy right hon. Friend has all this in mind. The changed circumstances due to the rail closures will be borne in mind in the review which my right hon. Friend will he undertaking in the very near future.
§ Mr. HoosonWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the importance of a North-South Wales trunk road? The lack of adequate means of communication between North and South Wales makes it difficult to plan the economic future of Wales. There is a feeling in Wales that parts of Wales appear to be becoming detached and becoming satellites of areas in England. The lack of a 600 North-South Wales road makes the development of Wales as an entity extremely difficult.
§ Mr. FinchMy right hon. Friend has that in mind, and I assure the hon. and learned Gentleman that the whole position is being dealt with.
§ Mr. Alan WilliamsIs my hon. Friend aware that many hon. Members on this side of the House consider it a major indictment of the previous Conservative Government that after 13 years of their Administration there are only 16½ miles of four-lane roads in the whole of Wales?