HC Deb 17 December 1971 vol 828 cc203-4W
Mr. Oakes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the first report of the designated Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the boundaries of districts in non-metropolitan counties.

Mr. Peter Walker

The Commission is already considering proposals received from local authorities and will initially publish its own draft proposals as a basis for consultation. But it will not make any formal report or recommendations

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why it costs £13,000 per mile to provide crash barriers before a motorway opens, compared with an estimated £11,000 per mile after it has opened.

Mr. Graham Page

The provision of safety barriers on motorways which are already in course of construction under a contract has to be carried out as a variation to that contract and additional costs are incurred on account of disruption. This will not occur where barriers either form part of the road construction contract documents from the start or where they are installed under a separate specific contract.

Sir Clive Bossom

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the numbers of accidents involving personal injury, and the numbers of fatalities and the numbers of serious injuries in such accidents, which occurred on motorways during the day-time and during the hours of darkness in 1968, 1969, and 1970 to date in 1971.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Following are the figures:

until its position has been placed on a statutory footing by the passing of the Local Government Bill. I have asked the Commission Designate to plan its arrangements so that it can submit its final recommendations on the pattern of new districts in non-metropolitan counties in time for the necessary Order to be made before the end of 1972.