§ 7. Mr. Tom McMillanasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he accepts paragraph 20.19 of the report of the advisory committee on trunk road assessment.
§ Mr. William RodgersYes, but good transport is a necessary condition for regional development.
§ Mr. McMillanSince the economic benefits of road building are very dubious indeed, will my right hon. Friend now consider diverting funds to British Rail's development programme, where real value for money can be obtained in the years to come?
§ Mr. RodgersI do not entirely agree with my hon. Friend that the economic benefits of road building are very dubious indeed. In fact, that was not the conclusion of the Leitch Committee. The conclusion was that roads were not the only major factor determining industrial location. I agree that we must have a proper balance between road and rail. I think that the current position is about right.