§ Lord TREFGARNEMy 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 the present phase of improvements to the A3, in particular, the flyover West of Ripley, the Cobham and Esher by-pass and the Malden Road underpass, is proceeding on schedule.
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, there are three current improvement schemes on the A3 between the South-West of London and Burntcommon, about four miles North-East of Guildford. The underpass at Malden Road has been slightly delayed and should now be finished in July, instead of at the beginning of June. The Esher by-pass is up to schedule and should be completed in the spring of next year. The flyover West of Ripley and the Ripley by-pass are being opened to traffic later this week, some four months ahead of schedule.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that satisfactory and helpful reply. Will she give an undertaking, if that is not too strong a word, to secure that the disruption to traffic at the Eastern end of the Cobham and Esher by-pass is kept to an absolute minimum?
§ Baroness STEDMANYes, my Lords.
§ The Earl of ONSLOWMy Lords, will the noble Baroness take it from somebody who very frequently travels on that road that to see something which says "opening Summer 1976" opened next Thursday—or "T'ursday ", as the Irishman I asked today said—is a matter for congratulation? And congratulations ought also to be given to Her Majesty's Government, few and far between as opportunities for such congratulations occur.