§ 16. Mr. Harveyasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will reconsider the decision not to improve the Mold-Ruthin trunk road in view of its bad accident record and in the light of the further fatal accident on 17 June.
§ Mr. John Stradling ThomasThe cause of the accident on 17 June is not yet known, and I have already called for a full report. A major road improvement would be very expensive and difficult to fit into the countryside. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as the investigations have been completed.
§ Mr. HarveyI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. What would be the cost of an improvement to eliminate the Llanbedr bend? What are the road-building priorities in the area?
§ Mr. Stradling ThomasAn estimate of the cost—it can be only an estimate—is about £2 million to £3 341 million, but in addition there are great physical difficulties, as my hon. Friend knows, in implementing a scheme there. I shall not take a further view at this stage until I have seen a full report and investigation into the recent tragic accident. I should like to add that we all have great sympathy for those who were bereaved.
§ Sir Anthony MeyerWhile fully appreciating my hon. Friend's difficulties in fitting certain necessary road works into his programme, may I ask whether it sometimes occurs to him — it certainly occurs to me — that the balance of expenditure on roads has gone astray and that far too much money is available to county councils for fiddling around with minor roads, where people are only encouraged to go dangerously fast? Should not more money be available for making certain Trunk roads a great deal safer than they are?
§ Mr. Stradling ThomasI have taken careful note of my hon. Friend's views.