§ Mr. Altonasked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that sufficient check and scrutiny is made upon motorway and trunk road schemes emanating from road construction units.
§ Mr. FowlerYes. I should, however, point out that trunk road schemes do not "emanate" from road construction units. I decide what schemes enter the road programme and their priorities within it.
§ Mr. Altonasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider submitting major trunk road schemes to independent audit in the same way as the proposals of the British Waterways Board were submitted to the audit of Fraenkel & Co.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo. There is no analogy between that study of the need for and cost of waterways maintenance and the assessment of major trunk road schemes. Our methods of trunk road assessment have been examined by the independent Leitch committee, and its successor the standing advisory committee on trunk road assessment. The application of those methods to individual274W schemes can be considered at local public inquiries.