§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to make a survey for the proposed new Stoke-on-Trent—Stafford road; and if he will give some indication of where it is proposed to place its construction in the list of national road priorities.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydSome survey work for locating the road has already been done. The detailed survey, which involves substantial work, will be begun and carried on as and when the available staff can handle it without prejudice to more urgent duties. In present circumstances surveys of roads are, in general, being curtailed in order to use engineering and technical staff on other schemes of pressing national importance, and therefore the survey of this road will not be completed for some little time. I cannot at this stage give any indication when the road is likely to be constructed.