asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will re-examine the projected A5 diversion for the future development of Milton Keynes, in view of the fact that there are considerable Roman remains outside the scheduled area of Magiovinium.

The alignment of the A5 diversion carefully avoids the scheduled area of the Roman town of Magiovinium. I am not aware of any major new evidence, not produced at the public inquiry held in June 1975, that would justify my reconsidering whether the present alignment should be altered. Meanwhile, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment hopes to arrange for an exploratory dig, followed by excavation where necessary, to be undertaken before the construction work starts.