§ 10. Mr. Townsendasked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the fact that Greater London's major road system is of national concern, if he will take steps to fund it on a national basis.
§ Mr. William RodgersNo, Sir. London's trunk roads are already financed entirely by central Government. I would like to see a greater rather than a smaller involvement of local opinion in London's roads.
§ Mr. TownsendDoes the Secretary of State appreciate that London is unique among major Western cities in having no satisfactory inner orbital system, and 444 that the absence of a strategic road network in London is greatly damaging to the national road network? Cannot the Government do more to help the GLC, which is no position to give sufficient funds?
§ Mr. RodgersGenerally, in my experience, local government likes to make decisions that are essentially local. The GLC is elected by the citizens of London for that precise purpose. I recognise that very few local authorities can do all that they want to at present in road building. It is a question of priorities. However, combined with effective traffic management, a great deal can be done.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyWhy has the Minister not yet made the A2, which runs through my constituency, part of the trunk route? The A2, or the E2 in the European context, leads to the Blackwall Tunnel, which is motorway, and in between there is a three-mile gap which blocks up all the traffic going up the road.
§ Mr. RodgersThere is always considerable dialogue between central Government and local government both when we propose to detrunk routes and when we propose to trunk them. But this is not the only factor upon which depends the condition of a road. Certainly, however, I am concerned, as is the GLC, to ensure that London's roads are adequate within the budget available.