HC Deb 03 May 1978 vol 949 cc217-8
8. Mr. Newton

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had on the White Paper "Policy For Roads: England 1978", Cmnd. Paper No. 7132.

34. Mr. Forman

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had on the White Paper "Policy for Roads: England 1978", Cmnd. Paper No. 7132.

Mr. William Rodgers

I have received two communications which might be called representations.

Mr. Newton

Will the Minister accept a welcome for the White Paper's reaffirmation of the need to give greater priority to the South-East and East Anglia and also the White Paper's recognition of the possible need for a switch from Government schemes to local authority schemes? When does he expect to translate these hopes into cash, particularly for the county of Essex?

Mr. Rodgers

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the appendix to the White Paper set out about 400 schemes, which are being assessed or reassessed in terms of priorities. As he says, we believe that in the immediate future industrial routes and those to the ports will be very important. I am prepared to be flexible if it is shown that local authorities need more money for capital spending while, on balance, I may need less.

Mr. Forman

Is the Secretary of State aware that many people in my part of Greater London will welcome the fact that the first priority in the South-East, according to the White Paper, is to be given to the completion of the M23? Will he see to it that the next priority in that area is not to build the M23 north of Hooley?

Mr. Rodgers

There is a substantial measure of agreement on that.

Mr. Ron Thomas

The Secretary of State mentioned routes to the ports and similar installations. Will he take it from me that many people in my constituency want to urge him, as I do now, to try to ensure that more of the chemicals and dangerous substances go by rail and not by road? Where this is not possible, we should like there to be regulations which ensure that the tankers and other vehicles which carry dangerous substances are maintained effectively and inspected regularly.

Mr. Rodgers

My hon. Friend has raised this matter before in the House. I said previously and can say again that I broadly agree with him. We should use the railways as much as possible for freight, including dangerous freight. Equally, we should make sure that for the traffic which goes by road the safety regulations are strict and are properly enforced.