§ Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the progress being achieved in the North-East towards better road networks and with the object of minimising the disability of travel distance to work, and giving workers a wider range of jobs and employers a wider area from which to draw the mix of skills they need.
Mr. Bob BrownGood progress has been made in implementing a co-ordinated plan for a network of high quality roads in the North-East which is opening up the area to employers and employees alike. For example, the A.1 is now a motorway through County Durham with major urban improvements under construction in Tyneside. Dual carriageways are being provided as far north as Morpeth. The route from Dishforth to Sunderland is being improved progressively, and a by-pass is under construction to link with the Tyne Tunnel, which, in turn, is being connected northwards to A.1.