To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of motorway were open at the end of (a) 1979 and (b) 1997. [68125]

The information that the hon. Gentleman seeks is available only for financial years, not calender years. On 1 April 1979, there were 1,339 miles of motorway open in England, and on 1 April 1997, the corresponding figure was 1,759 miles. The figures include both trunk road motorways and those for which the local highway authority is responsible.