HC Deb 24 July 1968 vol 769 cc560-1
49. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of improvement to east-west road communications from the City of Kingston upon Hull.

Mr. Swingler

On the route running due west from Hull, the M62 is expected to be completed from Lancashire to Ferrybridge on the A1 by the end of 1972. Proposals to extend it to Gilberdyke on the A63 were included in the trunk road preparation pool in February, 1967, and are at present at a preliminary stage. Work is expected to start on the Elloughton by-pass on A63 in the autumn of 1969. A possible diversion of the trunk road in Selby is being investigated.

In addition there are schemes for improving the route in a south-westerly direction towards Doncaster.

Mr. Wall

Do these improvements include the approaches to the Humber Bridge?

Mr. Swingler

As we have said, that is taken into account in the elaboration of this very important and extensive network which my right hon. Friend has programmed.

Mr. James Johnson

Does my hon. Friend not agree that, because of its geographical position, Hull is the most isolated of the major ports? Will he not, therefore, accept that there is a need, at the earliest possible moment, for a first-class exit to the West, to the A1?

Mr. Swingler

What my hon. Friend said may be the position which we inherited from the past, but it will not be the position when my right hon. Friend's programme has been carried out.

Sir C. Osborne

Despite the promise made at Hull in the General Election, will the. Minister resist the pressure for a Humber bridge and, instead, build roads in and out of the ports on the Humber, because we in Lincolnshire do not want the whole of the road traffic from Yorkshire?

Mr. Swingler

My right hon. Friend will consider this matter in the light of the consultants' report but, whatever his prejudice, the hon. Member will be bound to acknowledge that we have programmed a most elaborate and extensive network to improve communications around Hull.

Mr. McNamara

Does not my hon. Friend agree that, although we recognise the importance of roads on both sides of the Humber, there is a definite need for a bridge across the Humber and that the Government are committed to the building of such a bridge? Is he aware that we on Humberside look forward to an early statement on the building of the bridge?

Mr. Swingler

As my hon. Friend knows, this matter is connected with other prospects for development on which we are awaiting the report of the consultants. The matter will be decided and announced by my right hon. Friend when we receive that report. In the meantime we are going ahead with investment totalling many millions of £s to improve communications to and from Hull.

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