§ 2. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Minister of Transport what estimates she has of the length of motorway under construction and to be completed during;968 and 1969; and what steps is she 1754 taking to ensure the continuity of the road building programme.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Transport (Mr. Stephen Swingler)We estimate that some 300 miles will be under construction and about 32 miles will be completed in 1968. The comparable figures for 1969 are some 400 and about 45 miles respectively. The new trunk road preparation pool and principal road preparation list procedures are designed to ensure that a large volume of road improvement schemes is prepared in good time to match the future resources allocated to road building.
§ Mr. RobertsWould not my hon. Friend agree that the cuts in the road programme announced yesterday are likely to disrupt the planned growth of the use of men and machines by road construction companies and that this will ultimately lead at some stage to an increase in the cost of each mile of road built?
§ Mr. SwinglerNo, I cannot agree. We, too, have to exercise some restraint in the expanding programme for which we are responsible. My right hon. Friend is determined to maintain the momentum of major road construction, and any curb in expenditure will be applied in order to ensure that that momentum is maintained.
§ Sir G. NabarroIn maintaining this momentum, will the hon. Gentleman make certain that the utmost priority is given to linking the M5 with the M6 in the Midlands, which is surely the greatest area of congestion in Britain today?
§ Mr. SwinglerYes, Sir. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the utmost priority is being given to the motorway links and that this will be maintained.