§ 8. Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the construction of the remaining stages of the M4.
§ Mr. Barry JonesThere are 27 miles already in use. Work is proceeding on a further 29.7 miles, which should be in use by the end of 1977. This will leave three sections to be completed—the two sections north of Cardiff and Bridgend, and the section between the Morriston and Port Talbot bypasses. A dual carriageway already exists between Morriston and Port Talbot.
§ Mr. AndersonI congratulate my hon. Friend on his wisdom and political courage in giving priority to the motorway, which is the single most important contribution to industrial development in South Wales currently under development. However, will he say something about the Port Talbot-Morriston section—the Baglan-Lonlas part of the motorway—which appears to be the major missing section? When can we expect to have some further information about that?
§ Mr. Barry JonesThat depends on the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the availability of funds. It is at an early stage of preparation. I can say that it has been necessary to seek the views of other bodies about these proposals. Until that process has been completed I cannot even say when the preferred route will be announced. However, to hearten my hon. Friend, who is a bonny fighter for the motorway for his city, I can tell the House that £100 million is being spent on the M4 on projects already started and planned, and the greater part of the motorway should be in existence by 1979.
§ Mr. Gwynfor EvansWill the Minister and his right hon. and learned Friend 11 consider the urgency of the need for improvements to other major highways? In particular, will be consider improving the roads from Swansea to Caernarvon and from Cardiff to Caernarvon in a way that would take an hour off the journey?
§ Mr. Barry JonesI take the hon. Gentleman's point. I restate the priority of the Welsh Office—namely, east-west communications. As soon as the M4 is largely completed, the greater part of our expenditure will be switched to North Wales.
§ Sir Raymond GowerIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a widespread feeling that it is urgently important that there should be a link between this motorway and the airport at Rhoose? Will he give urgent consideration to a suitable interchange which can be reserved for that purpose?
§ Mr. Barry JonesI can never deny the pleadings of the hon. Gentleman for his constituency, and especially for the important airport that he has mentioned. I should like to think about his suggestion. Perhaps we can correspond about it.
§ Mr. Geraint HowellsI agree that great progress has been made in South Wales to improve road communications, but is the hon. Gentleman aware that all the schemes that were prepared for Cardiganshire have been shelved? What is the Welsh Office to do for Mid-Wales?
§ Mr. Barry JonesWe never forget Mid-Wales, because my right hon. and learned Friend is from that area, and he instructs us not to forget it. The hon. Gentleman is in correspondence with me literally at this moment. I can quote chapter and verse the schemes that are going ahead in his part of the world.