§ 27. Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of reports from public inquiries arising from road improvements that he has received since October, 1970 ; how many of these still await his decision ; and what has been the average time taken in this period between his receipt of an inquiry inspector's report and his decision on it.
§ The Minister for Local Government and Development (Mr. Graham Page)The total number of reports of public inquiries arising from road improvements that have been received from inspectors since 1st October, 1970, is 122 ; of these 41 still await my right hon. Friend's decision ; the average time taken in this period between the receipt of an inspector's report of an inquiry and my right hon. Friend's decision on it is 13 weeks.
§ Mr. SutcliffeIs my hon. Friend aware that a year after the inquiry no decision has yet been made on the key road junction for Teesside, the A19/A66, affecting the diversion bridge over the Tees, and that this situation defies all belief in his capacity to act with any sense of urgency on a vital question affecting a development area?
§ Mr. PageYes, I am well aware of the time taken in this complex matter, which consists not only of the diversion of a trunk road but also planning proposals by the Teesside County Borough Council for a link road in Middlesbrough. This is not a simple road matter but also involves planning matters upon which it is difficult to reach a decision.