§ 35. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of the A30 and A303 have been double-tracked during the past year; how many will be completed during the current year; and what plans he has for extending the Basingstoke motorway M3, to the west towards Dorset.
§ Mr. Graham PageThe mileage of dual carriageway on these two routes was increased by 2.2 miles in 1970–71. A further 2.85 miles will be completed this year. My right hon. Friend announced plans in June for the comprehensive improvement of both routes from the end of the M3 through to Penzance.
§ Mr. DigbyIs my hon. Friend aware that at this rate of progress it will be decades before we have proper roads to the South-West? Would it not be far better to get on with extending the motorway?
§ Mr. PageNo, Sir. These schemes have only recently been added to the preparation pool and they will be completed. The comprehensive development of the whole of this road—with good, modern standards fully adequate for the 1337 traffic it will carry, traffic bottlenecks bypassed and so on—will take place in this decade, quite a good bit before 1980, I think.
§ Mr. David MitchellCan my hon. Friend give any indication of the latest timetable for the eastward extension of the M3 towards London?
§ Mr. PageNo, Sir. There are still design problems and statutory procedures to be carried out. I should not like to Rive a date.
§ Mr. CrowderIs my hon. Friend aware that I discovered last August that it was quicker to go from Southampton to Plymouth in a small motor boat than it is by road? Will he do something about this matter?