§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to link the Midlands with the East Coast ports; and in the context of his plans, what role he has for the A45;
164W(2) when the major link between the Midlands and the eastern ports is to be constructed; and what part of the route has been approved;
(3) how the Government proposes to reroute the heavy container traffic that is now passing through Bedford via the A6 and A428;
(4) whether the projected new motorway between the Midlands and eastern ports will pass through Northamptonshire or Bedfordshire;
(5) what plans he has for providing a road link between Milton Keynes and the east coast ports.
§ Mr. PeytonThe results of the feasibility study into a new route to link the MI near Northampton with the Al should be available at the end of the year. It is too early therefore to say what recommendations may be made as to the timing, standards or location of any route improvements on this section. The route is, however, included in the strategic network of trunk roads to be completed by the early 1980s. The communications needs from Milton Keynes to the east coast ports are being taken into account both in this study and in the study being carried out into a possible new route linking M1 near Luton with M11 near Bishops Stortford. From Cambridge to Ipswich comprehensive improvement of the A45 has been accelerated and the schemes are now expected to be completed by 1976.