asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to give his decision following the inspector's report after the public inquiry held in Preston into the proposed Ingol distributor road.

The inspector's report is currently being considered. I hope that a decision on this can soon be given.

:Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that there is considerable anxiety among the people of the Ashton part of Preston about the results of the inquiry? Will he undertake to expedite the decision?

Yes.