§ Sir W. Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Transport whether he has now been able to consider the recommendations put before him by the South-East Lancashire and the North-East Cheshire Conurbation Committee Report on Roads; what procedure will be adopted with regard to the implementation of the proposals contained therein; and by what date he anticipates it will be possible for the reports of other conurbation committees to be published so that a complete picture can be obtained as to what the national requirements are in this respect.
§ Mr. MarplesI have not yet received recommendations from the South-East Lancashire and North-East Cheshire Conurbation Committee. The recently published report on roads in this area was prepared by a committee of the surveyors to the local highway authorities concerned. The report is now being considered by those authorities. I expect to receive recommendations from the Committee within the next few months and I hope then to be able to agree with them a phased programme of classified road improvements for the area.
The decision whether or not to publish reports prepared by Conurbation Committees or Sub-Committees must rest with 200W the local authorities concerned. I have received reports from the West Midland, West Riding and Tyneside Conurbation Committees, some of which are still under review. None of these reports has been published. I expect to receive a report from the Merseyside Conurbation Committee later this year.