asked the Minister of Transport what capital expenditure he has authorised to increase the acceleration of goods traffic from North Staffordshire; and whether it is intended to modernise the Stoke to Madeley line so that goods traffic can be carried via Crewe.

I have authorised the re-modelling of the marshalling yard at Crewe (Basford Hall) at a total cost of £280,000. In association with this scheme a new line to link the Stoke-Market Drayton line with the Stafford-Crewe line at Madeley will, it is hoped, be in operation by the end of this year.