§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth on 2 December, Official Report, c. 150, if he will make a statement explaining fully the circumstances which will cause further delay of the publication of the inspector's report on the M42, Tamworth section, until the end of January 1982; and why his decision will be delayed for up to a further six months thereafter.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe further delay is due to the inspector taking longer than he had hoped to complete his report. I can assure my hon. Friend that there will be no unnecessary delay in announcing a decision once the report is received, but we will have to consider it carefully and this is bound to take time. I now aim to produce decisions of this kind within six months of receiving an inspector's report unless there are special complexities and this is an improvement on past practice.
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Transport if it remains his policy that the M42, Tamworth section, will still be started in 1983 as stated in the White Paper subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and the availability of funds.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes.