§ 11. Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Transport if he will issue as a Green Book the long-term road building strategy for the 1970s prepared by his Department.
§ Mr. BiffenIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a respectable argument for believing that good road communications do much more for regional development than the policy of expensive industrial grants and subsidies? Will he take this opportunity to endorse that view?
§ Mr. MarshFar be it from me to get involved now in an argument as wide-ranging as that. I am all in favour of the Green Paper which I intend to put to the House in due course, and I am grateful to know that I have the hon. Gentleman's support in advance.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is urgent need for publication of the Green Paper, particularly to allay the fears gaining ground as a result, first, of the cuts in the road building programme and, secondly, of the slippage which has already taken place this year in the programme already promised?
§ Mr. MarshI hope to produce the Green Paper before Easter and I agree that it is urgent. But surely the hon. Gentleman is aware that under this Government we are spending twice as much on the read programme as when we came to office.