asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give an assurance that he will not sign the scheme line for the A13–A12 section of the proposed M16 without re-publishing the revised line proposals; and whether he will make a statement.

As stated by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Transport in answer to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman) on 2nd December 1974, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has accepted in principle the line of the motorway as published. He has not yet reached a decision, following the Department's consultations with objectors and other interested parties, on possible modifications.—[Vol. 882, c. 392.]