§ 20. Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the programme for the improvement of the roads from London to Dover, with a view to accelerating this development to meet the increase in road traffic to the 448 port of Dover expected in 1972 and thereafter.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineI share my hon. Friend's concern about the improvement of roads from London to Dover, but I am satisfied that good progress is being maintained.
§ Mr. CrouchI am sorry to advise my hon. Friend that I do not have such a comfortable feeling about the matter. Will he take it from me that it is necessary for either him or another member of his Department, or his officials, to consult the Director of the Dover Harbour Board for information on the tremendous buildup which is expected not only next year but in the years succeeding 1972?
§ Mr. HeseltineMy hon. Friend will appreciate that a very large number of schemes for this particular road are now under way and that the overall improvement of the road should be completed by the mid-1970s. But regarding the particular extension to the Dover East Docks which has recently been announced, we shall have to look at this in the light of traffic which develops there consequentially.