§ Mr. Boxasked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a further statement about the Report of the Industrial Association of Wales and Monmouthshire about future highway requirements in South Wales.
§ Mr. MarplesI have now completed my study of the Report of the highway needs of South Wales and Monmouthshire made by the Industrial Association. As I told the House on 15th November, it is a valuable document and I am indebted to those responsible for it.
I agree with many of the conclusions and recommendations about the ultimate road pattern in South Wales. Most of the chief proposals are already planned and some are in progress. There are some which I should like to look into more closely and I have arranged for a careful investigation into them. But I cannot go as far or as fast as the Report proposes. For example, the westward extension of the motorway from Newport would of necessity be a very long term project on which I must reserve judgment.
The rate and extent of the road programme for the country as a whole must depend upon the state of the national economy and on the proportion of the financial resources that we can afford to spend on roads. In determining the programme for South Wales within this total, I must, of course, have regard to the competing needs of other areas. I shall, however, always take full account 67W of the needs arising from the important developments taking place in South Wales.
Some of the recommendations are about classified roads. It will be for the local highway authorities to submit their proposals which I shall be glad to 68W consider in the light of the funds at my disposal and the relative priority of each scheme.
I have recently had a meeting with representatives of the Association when I gave them my fuller comments on their Report.