HC Deb 10 March 1969 vol 779 cc962-3
22. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Minister of Transport what study he has made of the evidence supplied to him by the honourable Member for South Bed- forshire on research being carried out into the development of road links between Luton and the East Coast; and if he will ensure that new road plans provide adequate fast roads across Great Britain linking South Wales and East Anglia via the Midlands and the Luton area.

Mr. Bob Brown

The idea of an eventual East-West route between Luton and the East Coast of the kind mentioned in the evidence supplied by my hon. Friend seems acceptable in principle. We are satisfied that schemes programmed for the early 1970s and in preparation for the mid-1970s will provide adequate road links between South Wales and East Anglia.

Mr. Roberts

While I welcome my hon. Friend's assurance in this direction, which appears to break away from the long north-south obsession which seems to dominate all road planners, will he not agree that there is some urgency for linking the steel works of South Wales to the heavily industrialised areas in the Midlands and onwards to the growing ports in East Anglia with their outlet to Europe?

Mr. Brown

Planned routes between South Wales and East Anglia we consider to be adequate. We have got the Midland links M.5-M.50-Ross spur route, and the M.4-M.5-Severn Bridge route. We consider that these are adequate.

Mr. Emery

Will the Minister make certain that if goods are to go from South Wales to Europe they do not travel by road all the way across from the West to the East of Great Britain when they can go by ship and save a great deal of pressure on the roads in the Midlands, which would be to everybody's benefit?

Mr. Brown

We accept that there are certain types of loads which are better taken by road and others which are better taken by sea.