§ 8. Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will announce his decision on the inquiry into stage 2a of the North Devon link road; when he expects to make a decision on the recently ended stage 2b public inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the extent to which the North Devon road construction programme is on schedule.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerWe announce decisions following public inquiries into road schemes as soon as possible, and will do so in this case.
My hon. Friend will know that stage 1 of the link road is open to traffic, and I am glad to be able to report that construction work on the Bideford bypass is proceeding ahead of schedule.
§ Mr. SpellerI thank my hon. Friend for that fairly hopeful reply, but in seeking to progress these decisions will he bear in mind the intolerable stress on the finances of people whose homes, farms and businesses have been under threat for several years? Furthermore, have the dreadful decisions made here and elsewhere in relation to the Okehampton bypass delayed work on the North Devon link and area roads?
§ Mr. SpicerI can give a total assurance on the last point. The answer is none at all.
I appreciate my hon. Friend's concern about the North Devon link. We are fully committed to providing that important new road as soon as possible, and we shall be taking it through the necessary statutory procedures as quickly as possible.