§ 22. Mr. Alisonasked the Minister of Transport if he has studied the proposal made in the Brooking Institution study, Britain's economic prospects, extracts from which have been sent to him, that greater emphasis should be laid on town bypass schemes in future road programmes; and if he will reconsider Government policy in the light of this proposal.
Mr. Bob BrownYes, Sir, but as the present road programme already takes full account of the benefits arising from bypassing towns, we see no need for a reconsideration of Government policy.
§ Mr. AlisonIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the outlay of the equivalent of about a year's expenditure on ordinary road programmes on urban congestion exclusively, once and for all, could result in nearly 700 miles of bypasses for London, 20 major cities and over 100 towns? Is it not time that the increasing congestion in urban centres gave rise to such expenditure by the Government?
Mr. BrownThe hon. Gentleman has clearly read the pamphlet very well, but in fact there are now £200 million worth 6 of bypasses, and schemes having a bypassing effect, in the trunk road preparation pool. On present plans, more than the magical £300 million mentioned in the publication will have been spent during the 1970s.