§ 27. Mr. Simon Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Transport if he will seek to amend the Highways Act, 1959, so as to speed up the statutory procedure laid down for planning the routes of trunk roads.
§ Mr. SwinglerPossible ways of improving the statutory procedure laid down in the Highways Act, when Parliamentary time permits, are being considered now. The procedure for long-term planning of trunk roads will be improved by a new clause in the Town and Country Planning Bill now being considered in another place.
§ Mr. DigbyWill the Minister of State try to "come cleaner" with the general public about the lines of by-passes, because there is so much uncertainty about the lines of future by-passers?
§ Mr. SwinglerAs the hon. Gentleman will realise, these projects have to be planned many years ahead, but not until detailed surveys have been made can the lines actually be fixed, and thus there is bound to be a period of uncertainty. I assure the hon. Gentleman and others that if they have particular cases in mind on which we can help by reducing the uncertainty, if they will let us have details, we shall investigate them.