asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why there has been a six months' delay by his Department in responding to the Engineering Report and Cost Benefits Study by the Hereford and Worcester County Council in respect to the proposed Broadway inner relief road.

I am not aware of any delay. The highway authority was advised in July 1974 that the scheme would not be included in the Department's firm programme and that it would need to consider it under the new transport supplementary grant arrangements.