HC Deb 15 July 1970 vol 803 cc1503-4
5. Sir R. Russell

asked the Minister of Transport how the result of the traffic survey of the North-West London area affected the decision to dual the five-mile single-carriageway stretch of the A1 between South Mimms and Hatfield.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

The survey confirmed the need for dual three-lane construction for this road and indicated the design of junctions necessary.

Sir R. Russell

Is my hon. Friend aware that the land for this road has been available, I think, ever since the original road was built? What, other than, possibly, finance, can have stood in the way of dualling?

Mr. Heseltine

Large numbers of detailed and very complex studies have to be taken into account, and analysis necessarily takes a long time to produce the sort of decisions necessary.