HC Deb 25 March 1981 vol 1 cc909-10
4. Mr. Hawksley

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the M54 motorway to Telford.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Tenders for the first two contracts were invited on 10 February and 9 March. I hope to invite tenders for the remaining two over the next three months. Construction work under the first contract should start about June. We hope to open the road in late 1983.

Mr. Hawksley

I thank my hon. and learned Friend for that answer, which will give great comfort to many of my constituents who are looking to the road to help the investment that is necessary in the new town of Telford. Is it possible, even at this late stage, to consider the representations of some local contractors that they should be included in the contract list? There are some fairly large contractors in my constituency who would be able to provide many jobs if they were successful. They are asking whether they could be considered for the contracts.

Mr. Clarke

I shall consider that point on the two contracts for which we still have to invite tenders. However, much as we like to help local employment, we must have a wide range of considerations in mind when deciding on the suitability of contractors to be invited to tender for such major projects. We will help if we can.

Mr. Cormack

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that, whatever comfort may be brought to the constituents of my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Hawksley), considerable annoyance will be caused to my constituents because the road will go through my constituency? Is my hon. and learned Friend further aware that my constituents believe that the project is a scandalous waste of public money and that an extra £20 million is being needlessly spent? Is he aware also that the motorway will provide a new and natural boundary for the conurbation and will destroy much fine agricultural and scenic land? All in all, it is the most despicable decision that the Government have ever made.

Mr. Clarke

My hon. Friend has pressed each of those points on me for as long as we have been considering the project. It was a difficult decision, and it was impossible to satisfy both my hon. Friends. The debate about the road had continued inconclusively since the early 1970s. Telford has the highest rate of unemployment in the West Midlands. Many industries went there because they were promised a new road, and they believe that their survival depends upon better communications. I believe that the motorway will be a valuable capital investment. Someone had to make a decision, and the time has come to get on with it.