HL Deb 19 July 1971 vol 322 cc655-7

2.41 p.m.

LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDAL

My 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 considerations will be given to the naming of stretches of motorways, and, by way of example, will consideration be given to naming the recently opened extension of the M.6 between Carnforth and Penrith as the"Westmorland Highway ".]

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, the major motorways, in addition to numbering, are given names identifying their terminal points. It might be confusing to long-distance travellers if relatively short sections of them were to be given local names; but subject to that consideration Her Majesty's Government would not be obstructive to regional desires for appropriate names.

LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDAL

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that encouraging reply, may I ask whether he is aware that in various parts of the world national highways have descriptive nomenclature for stretches of road which are of considerable interest to visitors from overseas? Does my noble friend not agree that anything that can be done to make it more interesting for tourists in this country who are travelling over our motorways is desirable? Perhaps further consideration could be given to this proposal on this ground.

LORD SANDFORD

Yes, my Lords, certainly. Such foreign motorways as I am acquainted with have names which are descriptive of their entire length; but I recognise that my noble friend may have information on this subject of which I am not aware. Nevertheless, the subject could be given further thought in the light of my noble friend's question.

LORD SLATER

My Lords, in view of that reply, could the Minister state what representations have been made by highways authorities who are the agents of the Government in regard to major development on the highways, or whether any representations have been made by the local authorities or through their associations within the ambit of operations envisaged in this Question?

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, so far as I am aware we have not received any representations of the kind contained in this question. If I find that I am wrong, I will write to the noble Lord.