§ Mr. Rookerasked the Minister of Transport if he will list the dates on which each of the dropped steel beams on the elevated sections of the Midland Link motorways was discovered.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his answer, 27 October 1980]: Full informamation about the A4123 viaduct has only just been made available to me by our agents, West Midlands county council. It informs me that precise dates are not readily available. The approximate times are as follows:
Viaduct Number When found Bescot 4 Autumn 1978 Titford 1 1979 Oldbury 10 Early 1979 A4123 4 August 1979 Gravelly Hill 2 Summer 1980 2 Autumn 1980 Oldbury 21 Autumn 1980
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Minister of Transport if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr on 21 July, any further cases of dropped steel beams on the elevated sections of the Midland Link motorways have been discovered; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his answer, 27 October 1980]: Since 21 July 1980 a further 23 cases of dropped beams have been identified. These do not affect the safety of the structure.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Minister of Transport if all of the current inspections of the elevated sections of the Midland Link motorways are being carried out in sufficient detail so as to enable him to form a judgment regarding legal liability.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his answer, 27 October 1980]: Yes, some of the inspections are, although they are not for this purpose but to discover the full extent of the engineering problem and to devise a system of full repair.