§ 3. Mr. Birchasked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the cut in road estimates for 1968-69 announced in Command Paper No. 3515 will apply to Wales; and on what categories of roads in Wales will these cuts fall.
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Cledwyn Hughes)About 5 per cent., falling partly on small improvement schemes on trunk roads but mainly on the maintenance and improvement of local authority roads. All the major improvements on trunk and principal roads will proceed as previously planned.
§ Mr. BirchCan the Secretary of State give me an assurance that the St. Asaph bypass road will be proceeded with as at present laid down? Does he realise the danger of cutting down on the maintenance of roads, because, if they are not maintained in the ordinary way, in 1525 a few years' time the costs are far greater than they would otherwise have been?
§ Mr. HughesI can give the right hon. Gentleman an assurance on the St. Asaph bypass. I think that expenditure on some minor roads can be postponed without undue hardship. I am anxious, in co-operation with highway authorities, to get the priorities right on minor roads.