HC Deb 16 June 1982 vol 25 cc936-7
8. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the nature of the repair work on the VI4 motorway near the Severn bridge; what is the approximate cost of the work; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Chalker

The repair work recently carried out near the Severn bridge was the resurfacing of the eastbound carriageway of the M4 between junctions 20, Almondsbury, and 21, Aust. This cost approximately £400,000 and the work was completed on 28 May.

Mr. Hughes

I thank the Minister for that information. Has she now received the report of the consulting engineers on the state of the bridge? If so, what action is being taken on their recommendations? Does she appreciate that the bridge is the main artery for trade in and out of Wales and that these persistent repairs and hold-ups are damaging the economy of the Principality, as well as its prospects? It there not an urgent need now to consider building a second Severn bridge?

Mrs. Chalker

No one underestimates the importance of the Severn bridge, not only for Wales, but for the West Country. The consulting engineers' report has just arrived. My right hon. Friend will make a statement as soon as he has been able to consider the report. Unfortunately, it will be a few days before we are ready. I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's remarks about traffic. The monitoring of traffic flows and future projections of traffic are part of the regular projections at which we shall be looking.

Mr. Adley

As founder and first chairman of the Brunel Society, may I ask my hon. Friend to agree with me that there is much evidence that Brunel was once better at building bridges than the latter-day practitioners? Can she say whether the Department rewards the incompetence which appears to be in evidence on some of our recent bridges by the granting of future contracts?

Mrs. Chalker

I cannot now go into the liability that arises if there is something wrong that is the fault of the constructor. There is no question of that at the moment. We have sought to discover from consulting engineers what is wrong and to take immediate steps to correct it. My hon. Friend ought to await the announcement by my right hon. Friend before any further discussion of the matter takes place.