asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many bypasses he estimates will be built in the current financial year.

We expect to open 15 miles of motorway and 35 miles of other trunk roads in England, which will take through traffic out of about 15 communities. We expect to start construction on a further 34 miles of motorway and 63 miles of other trunk roads, which will relieve another 30 communities. The 1982–83 transport supplementary grant settlement should enable local authorities to go ahead with a further 35 new bypass schemes.