Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport what is the precise nature of the long-term study group which he has now announced is to be set up to probe into the future traffic problems of our cities; in what way this differs from the long-term planning section of his Department which was stated by his predecessor, on 20th February, 1957, to be concentrating on trunk road requirements but also reviewing urban problems including urban motorways; what has been the number of staff employed in his Department on long-term study work in each of the past three 140W years; and to what extent it is proposed to expand its personnel and activity in the near future.
§ Mr. MarplesDetailed arrangements have not been completed, but the long-term study group I envisage will range more widely both in scope and in time than the planning section within my Department. As to the last part of the Question, the number of Headquarters staff employed in the planning section in each of the last three years was 10, 13, and 15, respectively.