HC Deb 16 December 1970 vol 808 cc348-9W
106 and 107. Mr. Gower

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what additional steps have been taken to facilitate a change of the rule of the road in the United Kingdom from left to right, since 21st December, 1960, when the right hon. Member for Wallasey (Mr. Marples) in a Parliamentary reply explained how this consideration affected the design of certain new roads;

(2) what estimate he has made of the approximate cost to be paid out of public funds of a change of the rule of the road from left to right; by how much this estimate has increased since 21st December, 1960; and what estimate he has made of the increased cost if such a change be delayed for another decade.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce a change in the rule of the road. We do not accept the assumption that it is inevitable and have therefore made no detailed estimates of costs but I believe they could at present exceed £250 million.