§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the events preceding the letting of contracts for stage 1 of the North Devon link road are proceeding as anticipated in the letter from the Undersecretary of State to the hon. Member for Tiverton on 18 November 1980, that is, that the order fixing the line of route was made at the end of November 1980; that the order was operating early in 1981; that the side roads order and compulsory purchase order will be made and operative by the spring; that the preparation of the necessary contract documents has continued expeditiously, and that a decision about a date for starting work will be taken by early summer; and whether it is still his hope that construction will commence in 1982.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes, everything is going according to plan. I will do my best to ensure that it continues to do so.