§ 2. Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for Transport how much money his Department is planning to spend on repairs and reconstruction of the M1 and the bridges over it from Luton south to London between the present and 31st December 1978.
§ Mr. MadelIf the bridges on the two-lane stretch of the M1 there are not in a dangerous state, why spend money on them this year, apparently to make them waterproof, thereby causing huge congestion when they will have to be completely reconstructed in the 1980s in order to build the third lane?
§ Mr. HoramThe general answer is that a stitch in time saves nine. If we did something now we might be able to save further expenditure in the not-too-distant future. There may be some delay on the Ml as a result of the patching to those three bridges, but it will last only five weeks, starting from 4th April. So it will be a short delay. I assure the hon. Gentleman that those repairs are necessary.
§ Mr. Greville JannerIs my hon. Friend proposing to take any steps to decrease the danger in fog on this area of motorway and, indeed, as it stretches up to the North?
§ Mr. HoramI hope that my hon. and learned Friend will read the new Highway Code carefully when it is published shortly. I am sure that he will, knowing his personal concern about the matter.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithWill the Minister take another look at the entrance to the M1 where, apart from off-peak periods, there is a continuous snarl-up of traffic?
§ Mr. HoramI note the hon. Gentleman's point, though it is something that is likely to persist, whichever party is in power.