§ 29. Mr. Raphael Tuckasked the Minister of Transport why, although the time for objections to his proposals to make an order under Section 7 of the Highways Act, 1959, fixing the line of the North Orbital Extension expired on the 14th September, 1968, he has not either made the order or arranged for a public inquiry to be held to consider any objections which may have been received.
Mr. Bob BrownWe are awaiting the results of a traffic survey which we wish to take into account before reaching a decision.
§ Mr. TuckMay I have a definite "Yes" or "No" to this question? Is my right hon. Friend going to honour the promise made to me on behalf of Watford and to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Longden) on behalf of Rickmansworth on 14th December, 1967, by the late Mr. Stephen Swingler that there was no question whatever of shelving this project, that the north orbital extension would be built, and that it was hoped to start work on it in 1970?
Mr. BrownI should not have thought that anything I had said in answer to my hon. Friend's Question could have been taken to suggest that this project will not proceed. What I have said is that we are awaiting the results of the traffic survey, and I should not have thought the hon. Gentleman would have considered this unreasonable.