§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the strategic, economic and environmental 108W factors that are taken into account in the decision to concentrate available resources on schemes which offer greater benefit as indicated in paragraph 5 of "Roads in Wales 1980".
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe basic strategic and economic factor is the need for a good road having regard to the use that will be made of it by transport serving industry and by persons living in, working in or visiting the areas it will serve. Environmental factors are principally concerned with improving general living conditions for people who reside in those areas.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the areas whose traditional industries are in decline which are referred to in paragraph 5 of "Roads in Wales 1980" to which he has allocated the highest priority in formulating his trunk road programme.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe areas are principally those connected with the coal, steel and slate industries.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the rural areas referred to in paragraph 5 of "Roads in Wales 1980" where the tourist industry makes a substantial contribution to the economy and to which he had regard in formulating his road programme.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe areas are principally the three national parks and much of the coast of North-West, West and South-West Wales.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the environmental benefits that will be brought to residents of towns and villages on the existing A55 as a result of its dualling, as set out in paragraph 7 of "Roads in Wales 1980".
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe principal environmental benefits will accrue as result of these communities being bypassed. There will be increased safety for traffic and pedestrians; easier local traffic movements; reduction in noise, visual intrusion and atmospheric pollution; and mitigation of existing severance of communities within these towns and villages.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the statement in paragraph 5 of "Roads in Wales 1980" that the Government regard improvement of the motorway and trunk road network as an important element in the contribution of public expenditure programmes to the economic development of Wales is still his Department's policy.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsYes.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is still his policy that the trunk road programme has to play its part in the reduction of public spending; and whether, in view of the Budget Statement, he anticipates making further adjustments to the trunk road programme in Wales in accordance with the policy set out in paragraph 3 of "Roads in Wales 1980".
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsYes. As "Roads in Wales 1980" makes clear, the trunk road programme may be subject to adjustment and, like all other expenditure programmes, it will be reviewed during the course of the current public expenditure survey.