§ 77 Mr. H. Fraserasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the economically wasteful congestion on the Staffordshire trunk-road system; whether he has considered the recent statement of the chairman of the county council on the subject, of which a copy has been sent to him; and whether he will now issue permission and increase his grants for the maintenance and improvement of the main route North running through the county, especially between Stafford and Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Mr. BraithwaiteI am aware of the needs for road improvement in Staffordshire, as in other parts of the country, and have considered the statement to which my hon. Friend refers. A fair share of the money available has been 61W allocated to the county. We are already acquiring some land on the road referred to by my hon. Friend so as to be able to improve it as soon as funds are available for the purpose.