§ The Earl of Shrewsburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria are taken into consideration in order to promote an existing "A" designated road into a "Trunk" road.
§ Viscount DavidsonThe Secretary of State has a statutory duty to keep under review the national system of routes for through traffic ("trunk roads") for which he is highway authority, which includes most motorways. In pursuance of this duty he may by order add to or subtract from the network, though changes, except as a consequence of new construction, are rare, as it is generally desirable for 1501WA a road to remain the responsibility of the same authority. The main considerations in deciding whether to make a change are: continuity of the trunk road network; avoidance of closely parallel routes unless serving different purposes; and volume of through traffic carried, particularly heavy goods vehicles. Each case is considered on its merits.