§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Minister of Transport (1) in view of the recent statement of Government policy on authorisation and expenditure under the road programme, how it is proposed to enlarge the programme to meet the demands of continually increasing traffic.
(2) whether, in the light of the recent statement of Government policy, he is satisfied that it is practicable to 10W authorise road schemes to meet the levels of expenditure for the road programme approved each year, in view of the fact that preliminaries before construction take up to five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarplesI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Bolton. West (Mr. Holt) about the size of the road programme. The preparatory work for road schemes is authorised sufficiently in advance for them to be ready by the time when they are expected to find a place in the construction programme.