§ 2.33 p.m.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether plans are now finalised for the linking up of the M.1 with the M.6 and whether a statement can now be made on the programme envisaged up to the final completion date.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD LINDGREN)My Lords, the route of the motorway to connect M.6 with M.1 has been established. Work is under way on two contracts to extend M.6 southwards from Dunston to Darlaston, by the end of 1966. We shall press on with design work, the remaining statutory processes and land acquisition to permit the construction of the rest of this link to M.1 in sections by the early 1970s.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord 1151 for that reply, may I ask whether he is not aware that, because of the great industrial activity in the Midlands, the congestion is very great? Is it not possible to speed up the granting of contracts and the statutory work that is necessary to try to complete this link at an earlier date than five to six years from now?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, there are really two factors. The first is that the part of the road from Coleshill to Great Barr runs through the urban area of Birmingham and part of the Black Country. That necessitates considerable discussion and negotiation with the local authorities, particularly the Birmingham City Council, and considerable disturbance to householders, industrial organisations, and the rest. The design work on that section has been very difficult compared to the design, land acquisition and construction in open country of a normal motorway. We will do the best we can, and we are having the fullest cooperation from the Birmingham City Council. We hope now to get the design and line cleared comparatively quickly. As to the question of increasing the work by letting additional contracts, there is a limited number, one might say, of civil engineering contractors who are capable of undertaking contracts of this magnitude. There is equally a limit to the labour which is available for their use.
§ LORD ROYLEMy Lords, is my noble friend aware of the fact that because of the speed on M.1 and M.6 this particular section has become frustrating and dangerous? Will he not try to persuade his right honourable friend to hurry this matter up, because it is one of the black spots in the Midlands?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, we are doing all we can. The complication here is that there is two-way traffic in Birmingham from both M.6 and M.1. It is an originating and a destination point for this traffic. The complication of going through an urban area—the disturbance to which I referred earlier—is quite considerable. In a democratic country one cannot—and I hope we never shall—ride roughshod over the rights of the individual, and in a city like Birmingham consultations with the local authority and its right to protect the 1152 citizens of that great city cause a little delay.
LORD REAMy Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that the proposed link does not run through the middle of Birmingham, but well on the outskirts to the North and North-East? The plan has been in operation or in project for many years. Would he accept from me that people of all Parties in every part of the country would like this speeded up as much as he possibly can?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, I think that is perfectly true. It runs from Coles-hill through Castle Bromwich and Perry Barr, and out at Great Barr. Everybody wants it done quickly, except the persons whose property is affected. If noble Lords will give us the authority to ride roughshod over private interests, then it can be done quickly.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, the noble Lord said that there was a limit in giving further contracts because of shortage of equipment and labour. But this work is probably of the greatest possible importance in the country—more important than any other activity of this kind. Therefore, as soon as the statutory requirements have been completed, could not equipment and men be drafted there, if necessary from other places where work is not so urgently required, in order to try to complete these contracts at an early date?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, there are a number of very pressing social factors—housing, schools and hospitals—and there has to be a reasonable allocation of the national resources to the many urgent problems with which the Government have to deal.