HC Deb 21 July 1986 vol 102 cc7-8
5. Mr. Raffan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to construct a link road between the A55 and the A548 in Delyn; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

I have no plans to do so.

Mr. Raffan

As Delyn borough council regards this as the most urgent priority road scheme in the borough, and as industrial growth will be hampered until the link is created, will my hon. Friend consider giving financial help to Clwyd county council to enable it to carry out its promised evaluation study of the proposed link road as soon as possible?

Mr. Roberts

As my hon. Friend will realise, the link road which he proposes, which is supported by Delyn borough council, is a matter for Clwyd county council. If and when the county council produces proposals, they will be considered in the usual way for support by means of the transport supplementary grant. I understand that Clwyd is prepared to carry out an evaluation study in due course, but that it gives higher priority to the second Dee crossing.

Mr. Roy Hughes

Apart from the A55, will there be a statement on Thursday about the building of a second Severn crossing? Have the Government rejected the report of the Select Committee on Transport on estuarial crossings, which calls for their abolition—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I am reluctant to interrupt a Front-Bench spokesman, but does this relate to the A55?

Mr. Hughes

It relates to the Government's road programme.

Mr. Speaker

The question relates to a link road between the A55 and the A548.

Mr. Hughes

Is it not time that the Government employed some plumbers to stop the perpetual leaks? At least they should start to show a little respect for the House of Commons.

Mr. Roberts

Whatever may be said about a second Severn crossing, it will not go over the A55 or the A548.

Mr. Alex Carlile

Does the Minister agree that the A55, with or without the link road, is only one part of the roads necessary for a reasonable east-west crossing in Wales? Will he give immediate consideration to giving greater priority to the mid-Wales east-west crossing?

Mr. Roberts

The hon. and learned Gentleman will have read "Roads in Wales 1985" and "Roads in Wales —the 1990s and Beyond." We are consulting on those proposals, which refer in part to mid-Wales.