§ Sir John FarrTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects the M1 to A1 link road to be completed to the west of Kettering; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsWork is now completed on the contract for the A605 interchange and is in hand on two more of the 11 contracts for the link road. We expect to let four more contracts this financial year—for the Catthorpe interchange, the section from Rothwell to Kettering, the Kettering southern bypass and an advance railway bridge on the Kettering northern bypass.
With statutory procedures still outstanding, including public inquiries, on the Catthorpe to Rothwell section we cannot give a firm forecast for its completion or for completion of the remainder of the link road. We shall let the remaining contracts as quickly as possible.