HC Deb 10 December 1974 vol 883 cc146-7W
Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he now expects to publish the findings of the public local inquiry which took place in December 1973 in connection with the Orford-Risley expressway at Warrington;

(2) if the proposed expressway at Orford-Risley will be affected by the cutback in public expenditure on highways ;

(3) what is the reason for the delay in publishing the findings of the public local inquiry, which took place in December 1973, into the Orford-Risley expressway at Warrington, particularly in the light of his answer to the hon. Member for Newton on 17th July 1974 that he hoped to publish the findings within the next few weeks.

Mr. Carmichael

The whole road programme is subject to review in the light of the available finances. No firm decisions on the timing of the Orford-Risley expressway have yet been taken. My right hon. Friend expects to publish his decision on the local public inquiry before the end of December 1974. It did not prove possible to arrive at conclusions as quickly as originally anticipated.