HC Deb 07 June 1967 vol 747 cc1046-8
22. Mr. Crouch

asked the Minister of Transport if her consideration of the Channel Tunnel project includes plans for a motorway between the Tunnel and London and the other motorway trunk systems.

Mrs. Castle

I have nothing to add to the Answers given to the right hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes) on 14th December and 10th May.—[Vol. 738, c. 92–3; Vol. 746, c. 234–5.]

Mr. Crouch

Could I persuade or even charm the hon. Lady [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—at least I can try—because I feel that she has in the back of her mind, if not in the forefront, an appreciation of Britain's intention to take part in the E.E.C., which must generate a great deal of traffic to the South-East? I feel that the present arrangement is not sufficient, if the Channel Tunnel project comes about, to deal with the volume of traffic involved.

Mr. Speaker:

Order. The hon. Gentleman must charm Mr. Speaker by being brief.

Mrs. Castle

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman that, if we are to have a Channel Tunnel, we must improve the roads that give access to it. We have this very much in mind. The road mainly affected is the A20 and this is being improved, partly in the existing programme. Further improvements have been included in the initial list of schemes for the preparation pool which I announced on 21st February.

Mr. Deedes

Does the right hon. Lady yet know where the Channel Tunnel is to end and where this road will begin?

Mrs. Castle

Until we have reached a final decision on whether the tunnel is to be built and on who is to finance it, I do not think that I would like to go to the stake on that reply.

Mr. Mapp

In studying this matter, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, important as major communications with London are, it is even more important that the rest of the country should be able to avoid London by an outer ring road from the South-East, serving the Midlands, the North and Scotland? This is essential.

Mrs. Castle

I agree with my hon. Friend. Obviously, we must ensure that road links with the rest of the country are adequate as well. There are a number of roads to be considered, including links with the Ml and the Al to the North and the M4 and the A3 to the West.