49. Mr. H. Wilsonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total cost on land acquisition, including easements, compensation for disturbance, etc., of the London to Birmingham motorway, the cost this represents per mile of road, and the percentage which such costs bear to the total estimated cost of the motorway.
§ Mr. WatkinsonFinal figures are not available, but the cost of land acquisition is likely to be about £540,000, which is some £7,400 per mile or about 2 per cent. of the total cost of the motorway.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley - Davenportasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, before the new London-Birmingham motorway is completed, he will take steps to ensure that adequate arrangements are made to ensure that it will be open to traffic in all weather conditions; and if he is satisfied in that connection that the arrangements which have been made to ensure the speedy removal of snow are adequate.
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§ Mr. WatkinsonYes. Five maintenance compounds are being provided adjacent to the London-Birmingham motorway in which there will be adequate snow-clearing and gritting equipment. This equipment will be purchased by my Department and will be operated under the normal trunk road maintenance agreements by the appropriate county councils.