§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the lengths of the planned Swanley to Sevenoaks section of the M25 motorway and of the existing M26/M20 motorway route from Sevenoaks to Swanley; and what would be the estimate savings of fuel consumption and transport costs achieved by completion of the missing link in this ring road.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAbout 7¾ miles and 18¼ miles respectively. On the basis of the traffic forecasts prepared for the public inquiry in 1978–79, completion of the Swanley-Sevenoaks section should produce estimated annual savings in fuel consumption amounting by the year 2000 to approximately ½ million gallons on the "low growth" forecast or 1 million gallons on the "high growth" forecast. The total net present value of the economic benefits that would accrue from the scheme was estimated at the inquiry to be about £68 million at 1976 prices.