HC Deb 24 April 1989 vol 151 c647
10. Mr. Jack Thompson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress in improving the trunk road systems in the north-east of England.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The A1 between Newcastle and Morpeth and the A69 between Newcastle and Hexham are now dual carriageway throughout.

Mr. Thompson

The Minister's disappointing reply will not go down well in the north-east of England. Will he consider instituting a full-scale survey of the A69 east-west and the A1 north-south as the Romans did 1,900 years ago?

Mr. Bottomley

We shall review the whole length of both stretches of road. I do not want to prejudge the conclusions.

Mr. Amos

Will my hon. Friend undertake to look again at traffic flows on the A69 west of Hexham, as there is clearly an urgent need to dual that road all the way to Carlisle?

Mr. Bottomley

A review of the traffic on that stretch of road does not suggest that a dual carriageway is justified, but we shall see what we can do by widening and providing overtaking stretches, which is just as important.