§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the recent discovery of cracks in the M1, if he will make a statement on the Government's motorway repair programme.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe cracks discovered recently near junction 27 on the M1 were almost certainly caused by mining subsidence. Temporary repairs have been completed and the carriageway reopened. A more permanent repair is planned later this year.
There is no connection between this isolated incident and our general approach to maintaining motorways. We have already recognised the need to strengthen some of our older and most heavily-trafficked motorways, many of which have already carried a greater weight of traffic than they were designed to carry. Planned expenditure on structural renewals of motorways has already been increased to a higher level than ever before.