§ Sir T. Kitsonasked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with county authorities to organise road diversions on major trunk roads at holiday times in order to minimise delays of traffic during holiday periods; and what discussions he had with regard to the A1 and the Catterick reconstruction with the North Yorkshire Highway Committee before the Easter holiday.
§ Mr. HoramSuch discussions are held whenever necessary and particularly where road works are likely over a holiday period. Before work started on the A1 near Catterick in January there was a meeting between representatives of the contractors, the county council and the 295W police. As a result, a programme was agreed under which the work will be completed in 20 weeks. Although this entailed closure of one carriageway over Easter the accepted programme has the advantage that it will avoid closure at the Spring Bank Holiday and should see work completed by mid-June, before the main summer holiday period begins.