§ 10. Mr. Gerald Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the timetable for the statutory procedures following his announcement on the preferred route for the proposed M6 northern relief route.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI hope to publish draft orders for the line of the route in the middle of next year. A public inquiry would follow some months later. The publication of side road and compulsory purchase orders is not expected before 1989.
§ Mr. HowarthI thank my hon. Friend and his predecessor for the care with which they have considered the complex issue of the M6 relief route. My constituents have warmly welcomed the non-statutory consultation period offered by the Government, but I am alarmed about the time scale to which my hon. Friend refers. My constituents are becoming concerned about the uncertainty arising from the timing of the procedures. Could my hon. Friend not expedite them, and could he also reconsider—
§ Mr. SpeakerBriefly.
§ Mr. HowarthWill my hon. Friend reconsider the question of compensation and whether it would be possible to offer replacement value?
§ Mr. BottomleyIt is important for people to have a chance to air their views both in the pre-statutory period and during the statutory procedures. I doubt whether we would have roads as effective as we are now delivering if people were not given a chance to have their questions answered and their views considered.