§ 44. Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the most up-to-date estimates of the opening dates of the remaining sections of the M25 motorway.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe expect to have the whole of the M25 open to traffic by the end of 1986.
The actual opening dates of the remaining sections will depend on the progress made by individual contractors, and these are in turn influenced by factors such as weather and ground conditions. The current formal contract completion dates for the sections still under construction are as follows:
M40—Maple Cross 28 January 1985 M40 interchange 14 April 1985 Leatherhead interchange 15 April 1985 M4—M40 7 July 1985 Wisley—Leatherhead 5 August 1985 Leatherhead—Reigate 26 August 1985 Poyle—M4 15 September 1985 Swanley—Sevenoaks 9 April 1986 M4 interchange 15 June 1986 Bedmond road—A405 21 September 1986 Micklefield Green—Bedmond road 5 October 1986 The "Bell"—South Mimms (including the "Bell" interchange) 26 October 1986 A405—The "Bell" 2 November 1986
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Transport what level of spending he predicts will be devoted to improving the road network system in the London area encircled by the M25 motorway during the next five years.
§ Mrs. ChalkerProposals for schemes on trunk roads in London, were set out in Cmnd. 9059 "Policy for Roads in England: 1983."
I shall shortly be announcing the TSG settlement and capital approvals for schemes which the GLC and boroughs have put forward for support in 1985–86.
34WI cannot predict what further schemes may come forward, but I share the view expressed by the Select Committee on Transport that the GLC has done all too little to remedy the deficiencies of the road network on which the effective functioning and prosperity of London depends.