HC Deb 13 February 1963 vol 671 cc197-8W
75. Mr. Jeger

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will expedite the normal arrangements for constructing the proposed Thorne by-pass; and, in view of the local unemployment situation, to what extent he made it a condition of the contract that the contractors employ local labour wherever possible.

Mr. Marples

We are pressing ahead as quickly as possible with the statutory procedures necessary to establish the line of the by-pass, to permit alteration to intersecting roads and for the acquisition of land. But it will probably be some two years before construction can actually start.

I would not think it right to prevent contractors recruiting the most efficient labour force by imposing conditions about employment of local labour. In practice all road schemes provide local employment.