§ 16. Mr. ViggersSecretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on construction of and access works for the M27.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe motorway is open from Cadnam to Chilworth, and from Hedge End to Portsbridge. Main construction of the section between Chilworth and Hedge End, with a connection to the A33 at Bassett, started at the beginning of this year. A further contract will be let shortly, and I hope that the whole motorway will be completed in 1984.
Proposals for a link from the M27 to Swaythling were published on 26 February. Subject to completion of the statutory procedures and the availability of funds, I hope that this link will also be completed in 1984.
§ Mr. ViggersI thank my hon. Friend for that answer and am pleased to see her in her new post. The initiative taken by the Government for the construction of the M27 and the M3 in Hampshire is particularly welcome, because the motorway box is essential for communication in Hampshire. Will my hon. Friend encourage the Hampshire county council to continue the new initiative and to improve the particularly bad stretch of road between Gosport and Fareham on the A32?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI take my hon. Friend's point. I shall see what more can be done to help.
Mr. R. C. MitchellDoes the Minister envisage that there will be another public inquiry before the Swaythling link is proceeded with?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI must be honest and tell the hon. Gentleman that I cannot answer his question at the moment. From what I have heard, I do not think that there will be a need for an inquiry, but if there are many objections, presumably there will have to be one.
§ Mr. HillIs my hon. Friend aware of the report by the chief constable of Hampshire which points out that the road accident figures on the uncompleted portion of the M3 have reached horrifying levels? Surely the well-meaning people who delayed the building of the M3 should be publicly named by the Department and those deaths brought to their notice.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI shall certainly read the report that my hon. Friend has mentioned. I regret that so far I have not had time to do so, but I shall consider it.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallWill my hon. Friend confirm that if there are sufficient objections to the final section of the route for bypasses, which are an essential part of the M27 link, public inquiries will be held? If she has problems on this matter, perhaps she will write to me.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThere is no problem. If there are objections to the proposed route, the public inquiry procedure will take place.