§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the proposal to construct a northern bypass for Exeter from the M5 originated in a proposal put to his Department by Devon county council as the highway .authority;
(2) whether the proposal to construct a northern bypass for Exeter from the M5 is a scheme originating in his Department, without consultation with, or the approval of, Devon county council.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyA northern bypass of Exeter was first mooted when alternative routes for the M5 were under investigation in the mid-1960s. This work was updated before my right hon. Friend decided to include338W the scheme in "Roads for Prosperity". Devon county council passed a resolution last year requesting the addition of an Exeter northern bypass to the programme.