§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Minister of Transport if any trunk road contracts have been let during the past eight weeks; if he plans a moratorium on new contracts to remain in force until publication of the roads White Paper; which specific schemes scheduled to start have been so delayed; whether there will still be an increase in trunk road employment in the current year and the next year compared with 1978–79; why this moratorium was not announced as part of the public expenditure White Paper effects or in his statement on the cuts published on 1 November; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FowlerNo contracts for major trunk road schemes were let in that period, but none were deliberately delayed; one larger one has been held up by legal proceedings, and I hope that that for the Stockport East-West bypass—stages 4 and 5–will be let shortly. I have no plans for a moratorium on new contracts. However, there was a short pause in inviting tenders while we considered the implications of the new expenditure level for 1980–81. Tenders have now been invited for the only schemes affected, the Wimborne bypass and the Colchester Eastern bypass. The timing of other schemes is under review, but this will not affect the plans for a small increase in employment this year and next compared with 1978–79.