§ Mr. SpeakerI understand that the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Hooson) handed in a Question for oral answer which should have appeared at this point on the Order Paper. It was unstarred, owing to a misunderstanding for which the hon. and learned Member was in no way responsible. It can be seen as Written Question No. 6. The hon. and learned Member may ask the Question orally if he wishes.
§ Mr. HoosonThank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the estimated costs of the five alternative projected routes for a bypass at Cemmaes Road; and whether he has come to any decision on the matter.
§ Mr. Barry JonesThe estimated costs for the five alternative routes range from £278,000 to £532,000. I will place details in the Official Report. My right hon. and learned Friend expects to announce his decision on the preferred route next month.
§ Mr. HoosonIs it not time that the Department came to a decision? There has been a planning blight in this growing village for a long time because of 881 the inability of the Welsh Office to make up its mind which of the five routes it wants. Now they have been priced, is it not time that an announcement was made?
§ Mr. Barry JonesPerhaps the hon. and learned Member did not hear my answer. The Welsh Office can make up its mind, but the Welsh Office must, does and always will take into account the feelings of everybody concerned. The exercise brought out strongly conflicting views on the five proposed schemes. It has been necessary to look at this matter closely in the light of physical restraints before reaching a decision. As soon as possible—I would think within weeks—a decision will be announced.
§ Mr. WigleyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is grave concern in many parts of Wales about the delays in many trunk road projects? Will he confirm that there has been a substantial cut in the money available for trunk road construction next year, and will he make sure that this is reversed the year after and that we shall have substantially more?
§ Mr. Barry JonesThe trunk road programmes have been reconsidered, but I ask the hon. Member to show a little patience, particularly since the schemes in his own area are doing very well in so far as the Welsh Office has an enormous concentration of resources at the moment in the Colcon scheme and also on the M4. I should have thought that as the hon. Member is soon to have the Caernarvon inner relief road, he might be a little more patient.
§ Following is the information: Alternative 1, £532,000; Alternative 2, £399,000; Alternative 3, £395,000: Alternative 4, £278,000; Alternative 5, £412,000.