§ 10. Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the construction of dual-carriageway roads in North Wales during the next 12 months.
§ Mr. Barry JonesPresent plans are for a start of work during the next 12 months on schemes to provide about eight miles of dual-carriageway trunk road.
§ Sir A. MeyerMay I ask the Minister, who as a back bencher fought hard for the improvement of the road system in North Wales, not to allow himself, because he is now muzzled, to accept a situation in which the present Government do no better in road construction in North Wales than the record of their predecessors, which was not very good at all?
§ Mr. JonesI am not muzzled. The Government cannot do worse than the previous Government; they can only do better. Top priority is being given to the A55 coast road. We propose to construct the whole road from Chester to Bangor as a dual carriageway as soon as possible.
§ Mr. WigleyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this road is of vital importance to the development of Gwynnedd, and particularly of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire, and that people in Gwynnedd will be disappointed to note that only eight miles of the road are proposed at the present time? Will the Government accelerate the programme?
§ Mr. JonesWe will accelerate the programme as quickly as we can. However, to get a road built one has to start planning many years in advance.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesWould my hon. Friend confirm that the A5 is no less important than the A55 to Anglesey and the rest of North-West Wales?
§ Mr. JonesWe know that the A5 is strategic road for Wales. That is why the Llangefni bridge improvement scheme is being carried out on the Isle of Anglesey.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsIs the Minister aware of the problem of an exhibition of a model of the new A5 to the people of Penmaenmawr and their anxiety to see such a model? Will he arrange for this model to be exhibited there since arrangements have been made for an exhibition of the model to a civic society in Colwyn Bay?