HC Deb 24 October 1988 vol 139 cc4-5
4. Dr. Michael Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are for improvements to the A13 and A127 during the next three years.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Four schemes on the trunked part of the A13 and two on the A127 are planned to start in the period.

Dr. Clark

Is my hon. Friend aware of the hostile reaction from road users on the overcrowded A 13 and A127 to his recent comments that money spent on roads in the south-east represents poor value for money because the roads will be used only for commuting into London? Bearing in mind the excessive development that is taking place in the south-east and the large amount of road tax that has been paid over the years by people in that region, does he accept that improvements to the roads that I have mentioned are urgently required?

Mr. Bottomley

The answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's question is obviously yes, because I want my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Southend, West (Mr. Channon) to be happy.

I should apologise for my foot-in-the-mouth remarks, which were slightly exaggerated both in the way in which I said them and in the way in which they were reported. Good roads help economic development, help bring environmental relief and help to cut casualties. If we can have the type of development in the rest of the country that we are witnessing in London and the south-east, we shall all benefit. Roads are being built in all parts of the country.

Mr. Tony Banks

I wish to congratulate the Minister on what I thought was his outstanding cheek when he arrived 40 minutes late for a meeting and suggested that traffic congestion was a sign of economic success. If one applies that criteria, one must therefore assume that Calcutta—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The question is about the A13.

Mr. Banks

This is all to do with traffic congestion. The A13 goes right through the London borough of Newham, which I have the honour to represent. I merely wish to point out to the Minister that if congestion on the A13 and elsewhere is a sign of economic success, one can only assume that the homelessness in Newham is a sign of the success of the Government's housing policy and that people waiting for a hospital bed demonstrate that the Government's health policy is a great success. Where does the Minister stand in respect of road construction in London? He knows that extensive road construction in London is extremely unpopular.

Mr. Bottomley

I thought that the one part of London in which it was not controversial to build better roads was the east end, where people have been looking for better jobs and environmental relief from through traffic for many years. I suggest that if the hon. Gentleman is keenly interested he should change the habits of the past few years and ask to come to see me, when I shall go through the matter with him in person.