§ Mr. Costainasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is yet able to announce a date when the tenders will be invited for the Folkestone section of the M20 motorway.
§ Mr. HoramAll schemes in the trunk road programme are currently being reviewed in accordance with the principles and priorities set out in the transport policy White Paper. An announcement will be made in due course.
§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the current difference in cost in constructing the Maidstone to Folkestone section of the M20 motorway to dual two-lane and dual three-lane standards;
(2) what estimate he has made of the difference in completion time if the proposed dual three-lane section of the M20 motorway between Maidstone and Folkestone is altered to dual two-lane.
§ Mr. HoramA change from dual three-lane to dual two-lane standards would result in a saving in construction costs of about £8 million at November 1977 prices, but would probably delay completion by at least two years with consequent loss of benefit.
§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many representation 256W she has received, since the publication of the Transport Green Paper, regarding construction of the M20 motorway; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. William RodgersSince April 1976, when the consultative document on transport policy was published, I have received a number of representations about the M20, of which most in recent months have argued for early construction of those sections not yet built. Assurances have been given in replies that all the points raised will receive due consideration.