§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Minister of Transport what is the present position with regard to the South Lancashire motorway between Liverpool and Manchester, which was suggested by the Lancashire County Council several years ago.
§ Mr. Tom FraserProposals by the Lancashire County Council for further new motorways in Lancashire, including the scheme referred to, were discussed by my Department with respresentatives of the Council in April last. It was agreed that the Council would prepare a report on this scheme to enable us to decide whether the proposed motorway is acceptable in principle. This the Council has done and the Department is considering their report.
If it is acceptable in principle, surveys would be necessary to determine a line 122W for the motorway and the statutory processes to authorise its construction would need to be followed. The scheme would be considered for a place in my roads programme in due course, in competition with other important schemes.