§ Mr. Marlowasked the Minister of Transport what have been the numbers of heavy lorries using any section of the Ml for each of the last 52 weeks.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke: Traffic on motorways is not counted for every week of the year. The following monthly information is available.
South referring to the effect of the House of Lords decision in the case of Bushell and Brant that roads programme policy cannot be challenged at public inquiries.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke: Certainly. As I told the hon. Member when I wrote to him on 6 May I misheard the reference to "roads programme policy" in his supplementary question. His reference was in fact correct. The House of Lords decision in Bushell and Brunt confirmed the long-standing practice that national roads programme policy cannot be challenged at a public inquiry although its application to the particular scheme and traffic problems are very much an important subject of any inquiry. I welcome this opportunity to put the record straight, and to apologise for the misunderstanding.