§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether in view of the official statement made on 17th May, he is satisfied that local authorities have sufficient information regarding the major trunk road schemes which will be considered for inclusion in the road pro- 82W gramme after March, 1962, in view of the fact that the period required to prepare such schemes to the contract letting stage is up to five years, and of the need to prevent a falling off in road construction work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaclayYes. As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele), on 17th May, I am already arranging for the preparation of schemes to be authorised after 31st March, 1962, on A.74, the reconstruction of which is my principal priority
I should add that, while the period required to prepare major trunk road schemes to the contract letting stage can take up to five years, this is exceptional and the average period for preparation of schemes requiring the making of Trunk Road Orders is from two and a half to three years. Schemes which do not require the making of Trunk Road Orders can normally be prepared in one and a half to two years