§ 1. Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to visit Caldicot, Gwent, to discuss development of the infrastructure.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Secretary of State nevertheless recognise the increasing importance of Caldicot, which is supposed to be the site of the second Severn crossing? Residents who live alongside the site fear the congestion that there will be in the area, particularly on the B4245. Can the Secretary of State give an up-to-date assessment? As for the transport difficulties in the area, residents are calling for a park-and-ride facility at the Severn tunnel junction and a halt at Magor. Will the right hon. Gentleman do what he can to push those projects?
§ Mr. HuntWe are pleased to announce the advancement of work on the access road, subject to the satisfactory completion of parliamentary procedures. The access road east of junction 23 at Magor will be used by construction traffic for the second Severn crossing toll 2 plaza; otherwise, it would have used the B4245 through Magor and Undy. I hope that that will reassure local residents. I will consider carefully the hon. Gentleman's other point.
§ Sir Anthony MeyerWhen the Secretary of State visits Gwent to discuss infrastructure, would he care also to discuss with the right hon. Member for Islwyn (Mr. Kinnock) the superstructure of the Labour party?
§ Mr. HuntI am not sure that that will be possible, but the news that the right hon. Member for Islwyn (Mr. Kinnock) is to continue as leader of the Labour party is the best news that I have heard for a very long time.
§ Mr. AndersonAs I hope that the Secretary of State knows, Caldicot is alongside the Severn tunnel junction and the main through rail route to Ireland. Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to look at the European rail network as projected by British Rail, which shows a thick black line along the north Wales route to Ireland and seems to put much less priority on the south Wales route to Ireland? Will the Secretary of State consider that matter in the light of the development needs of south Wales and try to ensure that the south Wales route to Ireland is not neglected?
§ Mr. HuntI certainly agree with the hon. Gentleman that, subject to British Rail's commercial judgment., it is vital that Wales should get the best possible advantage out of the construction of the channel tunnel.