asked the Minister of Transport what is his policy concerning maximum speed limits on motorways.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on speed limits on motorways.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has regarding speed limits on motorways.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for changing the speed limit on motorways.

I am considering this and intend to make a statement in due course.

I wish, first, to express my pleasure at being the first from this side of the House to congratulate my right hon. Friend on this, the first occasion on which he is answering my Questions.

Has the Minister any evidence, in the period since the 70 m.p.h. limit was imposed on motorways, to show whether it is tending to increase or decrease the number of accidents on motorways and whether the speed limit is becoming increasingly or decreasingly observed by motorists?

I thank my hon. Friend for his opening remarks and I look forward to answering many other Questions from him in due course.

Such evidence as I have leads me to believe that there is an increasing tendency, which I regret, to disregard the limit.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his undue haste in rushing into print on this matter, particularly since more evidence is required? Would he agree that there is some feeling about his lack of objectivity regarding any changes in the speed limit, awaiting, as it must, the further investigation which only now he is beginning to understand is necessary?

I have only said that I am quite willing to look at this matter. That I intend to do. I will do so with an open mind and without undue haste.

I, too, offer my congratulations to the Minister. Perhaps he will forgive me for saying that I am as surprised to see him in his present office as he probably is to be in it.

The right hon. Gentleman is reported to have said that he will introduce a limited experiment in one area of motorway. Is this report correct, and as it was apparently based on part of the Green Paper, is it his intention to bring forward a White Paper on the larger and more important proposals?

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for his congratulations. I hope that he will take it that my surprise is an indication of my modesty.

So far I have merely said that I am prepared to look at the possibility of a limited experiment. I have not committed myself in any way. Indeed, it would have been wrong for me to have done so.

I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on having taken time to consider an important decision of this kind. I hope he will bear very much in mind the unfortunate trend of road accident figures, the latest of which were published yesterday. Will he take advice from the Road Research Laboratory and other bodies and make as much information as possible available to the House before reaching a decision?

Yes, Sir. I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for his helpful suggestion. I value very much the advice of the Road Research Laboratory. I will see that this information is made available to as many hon. Members as are interested.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on toll charges for motorways as crossing the Forth and Severn Road Bridges.

No change in the practice of making toll charges at the Severn Bridge is contemplated. The Forth Bridge is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. We have not yet had time to consider the pros and cons of imposing tolls on motorways generally.

I also congratulate my hon. Friend. Would he have regard to the fact that the charging of tolls on both the Forth Bridge and the Severn Bridge has been a highly successful exercise, both rewarding and lucrative, without causing delays to motorists and drivers of other vehicles? Would he consider earnestly a more widespread application of this important principle in order to promote and foster the building of new motorways?

I thank my hon. Friend for his kind remarks. The use of tolls for specific projects such as the two bridges has long been policy, but the further use of tolls for the building of roads in general must be subject to the review which my right hon. Friend is now undertaking.

The Parliamentary Secretary has just said that there is no intention of increasing the tolls on the two bridges mentioned by the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro). Can he give an assurance that that intention will apply also to the Tyne Tunnel, and that in future there will be no increase in the tolls there?

It would be helpful if the hon. Member were to put down a question specifically about the Tyne Tunnel, as it is not dealt with in the original Question.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed Channel Tunnel.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will make a decision on the proposals to build a Channel Tunnel.

I received today new proposals concerning a Channel Tunnel. They were made by a combination of members of all three of the international groups interested in the project; and I understand that they are also being submitted to the French Government. The proposals cover the conduct and financing of final studies, and the construction of the tunnel should this subsequently be decided upon. Before reaching any decision I shall wish to examine the proposals carefully in consultation with the appropriate French Minister.

I thank the Minister for that reply. Can he give any information about the financial arrangements? Can he say what further information will be given to the House, particularly as the 1963 White Paper is now seven years out of date, which, in transport, is another age? Will he consider publishing another White Paper giving the exact position as it is today?

I have not yet had seven weeks in which to bring that seven-year-old White Paper up to date, but I can appreciate the desire to have the current information as soon as possible. The financial matters are still subject to negotiation, and I cannot comment on them at this stage.

I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply. Does he appreciate the effect that this delay in making a decision is having on my constituency? Will he further agree that it is necessary to have a proper economic survey in respect of the tunnel before it goes ahead?

I entirely agree with what my hon. Friend has just said.

asked the Minister of Transport how the result of the traffic survey of the North-West London area affected the decision to dual the five-mile single-carriageway stretch of the A1 between South Mimms and Hatfield.

The survey confirmed the need for dual three-lane construction for this road and indicated the design of junctions necessary.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the land for this road has been available, I think, ever since the original road was built? What, other than, possibly, finance, can have stood in the way of dualling?

Large numbers of detailed and very complex studies have to be taken into account, and analysis necessarily takes a long time to produce the sort of decisions necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the proposals of the Greater London Council to increase bus and underground fares on the services operated by the London Transport Executive.

During the autumn, Sir.

Does the Prime Minister's recent statement about the need for price restraint in the public sector apply to London Transport as well as to other publicly-owned industries? If it does, will the Minister be able to do anything to protect Londoners from the excessive fare increases proposed by the Conservative-controlled G.L.C.?

My right hon. Friend's statements have a very wide bearing, but this matter cannot really be changed. The reference was made in June by the previous Administration, and I understand that fares are going up in the middle of August.

But does the right hon. Gentleman accept with equanimity the monstrous proposals that there should be a 1s. minimum fare on the London Underground system?

With great respect, there are quite a number of legacies which I have to accept, though not with equanimity.

There has been a change in recent weeks, as the Minister probably knows. Since 18th June we have had a Government which have said that they will control the prices charged by the nationalised industries. Has he not now an opportunity to set an example by controlling the fares charged to London Transport commuters at their level prior to his coming to power?

I am afraid that I cannot follow the hon. Gentleman in his advocacy of yet another subsidy. What I can do is to remind him of what my right hon. Friends have said, which is that it is quite impossible to contain the damaging results of Labour Government overnight.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will amend the provisions in the Transport Act that give local authorities the right to grant concessionary fares to retirement pensioners.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation compelling local authorities to introduce concessionary fares for the elderly on municipal bus services.

No, Sir.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that there is a need to unite the nation on this issue? Does he not further agree that the present permissive right of local authorities to give concessionary fares to pensioners should be made mandatory on every local authority?

My right hon. Friend has the power to provide a general formula upon which such concessionary fares should be produced, and he has circulated details of this to the interested parties. We are now considering their representations, but do not believe that it is necessary to impose a standard for whether or not these services should be taken up by local authorities. It is entirely a matter for the local authorities themselves.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in cities undergoing a great deal of redevelopment elderly citizens are faced with heavy fares bills in order to keep in contact with their old friends and families? Does he not also appreciate that to those who listened to the new Government's claim to be concerned with concentrating resources on areas of greatest need there is no excuse for the Government delaying any longer in introducing comprehensive legislation to cover the country as a whole?

The hon. Member will appreciate that the previous Government did not think it necessary to concentrate resources in this direction. It is our view that local authorities will be aware of the sort of local pressures to which the hon. Gentleman refers, and have all the powers to take the action they wish.

Whilst not wishing to deny the good intentions behind the Questions on the Order Paper, may I remind my hon. Friend of the great range of concessionary fares given by operators throughout the country to the blind, the disabled, to children and to scholars? The total is enormous.

I am absolutely sure that my right hon. Friend appreciates that that is the case, and it is precisely because we want this flexibility for local authorities to do what is necessary for their local people that we allow this flexibility to remain.

Will the Minister confirm that powers already exist for local authorities, if they have the will, to introduce concessionary fares for qualified people? He referred to a formula: will he state that there is no reason at all for any local authority to use the issuing of the formula as an excuse for not introducing travel concessions?

There is absolutely no need at all.

Is it not also self-evident that concessions like this can unfairly benefit one group of old-age pensioners at the expense of another? If there is anything available for old-age pensioners, is it not far better that it should be available in cash and not in kind?

There is often a need, I think, in local authority areas for specially based concessions, and it is correct to allow the local authorities to have the special concession-making powers provided in existing legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to effect improvements in harbours in respect of maintenance, management, and employment, and so as to ensure integrated planning and development of port facilities of Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to modernise the ports in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for the reorganisation of the ports.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the relations between central Government and the bodies responsible for the administration of the ports.

As I explained during the debate yesterday on the Harbours (Amendment) Bill, I would wish to complete my study of the problems of the ports before making any further statement.

Can the right hon. Gentleman hold out no prospect for early modernisation of our ports or for the implementation of schemes of rationalisation such as the integration of the Forth-Clyde Ports Authority? Are we to have no early action?

The hon. Member has, I think, misread my answer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the decision not to go ahead with nationalisation of the ports will be welcomed by the public at large, particularly as it was to cost £70 million? Is he aware that among the smaller ports this will remove an element of uncertainty and that they will be particularly pleased about that?

I think my hon. Friend shows his usual discernment.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any plans for changing the administration of Milford Haven?

I would rather not be tempted into discussing any particular port today.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this delay in presenting his proposals for ports reorganisation is causing widespread concern and unnecessary anxiety to management and staff and this in turn is affecting industrial relations within the industry?

I know that the hon. Gentleman was not present in the last Parliament, but perhaps he has ignored the fact that quite a long time has been spent without this problem being solved. Certainly it is not one which has become a problem overnight.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will issue a general direction to British Railways to review their fares structure so as to ensure that passengers are treated on the same basis whichever part of the United Kingdom they buy tickets in.

No, Sir.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it costs £8 to travel from Glasgow to Birmingham but only £6 to travel from Birmingham to Glasgow? So it is much more expensive to get out of Scotland than to get into it. During the course of the last few weeks his hon. Friends have been suggesting that the Minister would take power to get rid of this peculiar type of anomaly.

The hon. Member will remember that this power arose out of a recommendation from the Prices and Incomes Board, which was accepted by the previous Administration, to give the British Railways Board flexibility so that they could take advantage of market conditions in fixing their prices.

asked the Minister of Transport when the proposed improvements will start on the A30 between Exeter and Okehampton, Devon.

The Exeter-Okehampton improvement is in the early stages of preparation. It is not yet possible to say when construction will start.

Does my hon. Friend realise the growing anger in the West Country about the A30, which is a disgrace, and that we need to see these improvements started immediately?

My hon. Friend will, I think, realise that, perhaps as much as he does, I appreciate the need for developing the A30. It is part of the overall strategic concept of making the A30 a dual carriageway route the whole way from Exeter to Penzance.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to improve road transport facilities between Exeter and North Devon and, in particular, Bideford.

It is intended that the trunk road between Landkey Town and Venn should be improved and that a contribution will be made towards the cost of a relief road at Barnstaple.

Will the Minister bear in mind that this is not the real answer and that what is needed is better communications between Exeter and North Devon, particularly as this is a development area? Will he look into the matter to ensure that both road and rail provide a satisfactory system for people who live in the area?

The provision, rail services is in the first instance the responsibility of the British Railways Board. The roads which link Exeter and Bideford are essentially local authority roads, and schemes necessary would in the first instance come from the local authorities. I believe they have it in mind to spend half a million pounds by the middle seventies on this work.

asked the Minister of Transport what additional grant his Department is offering to South Shields Corporation towards the cost of the Western Approach road project, work on which was originally scheduled to commence this year.

None, Sir. The standard grant of 75 per cent. for principal road schemes such as this will be available.

While I recognise that that answer confirms the decision reached by the Minister's predecessor, will the right hon. Gentleman do whatever possible to encourage the Conservative local council to get ahead with this scheme, which is so important for developing new industry, in view of the fact that the council turned down a project which had previously been agreed upon?

I welcome the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question rather more than the second part, but, of course, an enlightened Conservative council can rely on my support and encouragement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the frequency of burst water-mains in the London area and elsewhere, he will take steps to limit the loads carried by commercial vehicles.

I have no evidence that the laden weight of commercial vehicles is a significant factor in causing burst water-mains.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that our roads were never constructed to bear loads of 40–50 tons or more? By way of confirming the point I am trying to make, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was another burst water-main in Stoke Newington this morning?

I very much regret the occurrence to which the hon. Member has just referred. I should remind him that what counts here is not so much the total laden weight of a vehicle but the maximum permitted axle weight.

asked the Minister of Transport how soon he expects to be able to complete the consideration he is giving, with the Greater London Council, to plans for dealing with the nuisance of the parking overnight of large lorries in private residential roads in Ilford and elsewhere.

Traffic regulation in the London area is a matter for the Greater London Council. But I welcome the experimental scheme the council is preparing to ban overnight parking of goods vehicles from specific streets in a limited zone. The scheme will be of particular interest because of my Department's special study on lorry parking problems in the North-West of England.

What we want to know is how soon this will have an effect in Ilford? Can the Minister say what is the root cause of this problem, which has developed in the last year or so?

The G.L.C. hopes to have the scheme in operation by the end of this year. To discover the general root cause is, of course, the purpose of the studies to which I have referred.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the London Borough of Ealing the parking of vehicles, particularly heavy vehicles, is a growing menace and is having a deleterious effect on the standard of living? Is he aware that many vehicles, particularly those passing near Western Avenue, are apt to avoid that motorway and pass through residential areas, where they cause grave discomfort to property? [HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."] Not too long for my constituents. Would he not agree that there ought to be a joint conference of representatives of his Department, the G.L.C. and London boroughs to examine this problem?

I think the hon. Member will welcome the G.L.C.'s determination to get this scheme into operation by the end of this year. Perhaps it might be welcome if he would wait until my Department publishes its North-West study, which it hopes to do by the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now considered the report on the public inquiry into street parking in Bridport.

Yes, Sir. As my hon. Friend now knows, we have decided to introduce certain restrictions for an experimental period of six months.

I thank my hon. Friend for his courtesy in sending me a copy of the decision. Is he aware that, although this may assist through traffic to Devon and Cornwall, it will inflict considerable hardship on the inhabitants of Bridport and the surrounding countryside who have to shop there because car parking facilities are inadequate?

Yes, I am well aware of this. One of the principal reasons why it has been made an experimental scheme is that there will be an opportunity to object before any provisions are made permanent.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will refuse sanction to all major road improvement schemes which do not provide at least one extra lane, in view of the increasing volume of traffic and of the fact that schemes to cost £7 million were started last year without materially helping traffic flow.

No, Sir. There are many schemes for the widening and re-alignment of roads and the improvement of gradients, intersections and bridges which greatly assist traffic flow and where the benefits offered fully justify their cost. Most major road improvements costing £250,000 or more do provide additional lane capacity.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his Department has consistently under-estimated the increase in traffic? Will he give a much greater priority to road-widening provisions?

I am always very interested to have the advice of my hon. Friend. If he can bring to my notice any of the projects he has in mind I should be most grateful.

Is the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby) aware—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] Is the Minister aware that if the Tory Party's programme of cuts in public expenditure is carried out sanctions will be refused to a whole number of road improvement programmes? Will he give an assurance that this will not apply in development areas?

I am sure that both my hon. Friend and I will profit from any advice offered by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consult representatives of the Scottish agricultural industry about the anticipated effect upon the marketing of livestock in the north of Scotland of the rising cost of transport; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the difficulties arising both for farmers and animals in the haulage of cattle, he will review the operation of the Transport Act.

I propose to lay regulations before the House as soon as possible, to allow a further relaxation of the drivers' hours rules under the Transport Act, 1968, as regards the carriage of animals.

I thank the Minister for that reply. Will he give the House more details of the extent and nature of these relaxations? Does he acknowledge that the increased transport costs which freight carriers, particularly those in the North of Scotland, are experiencing are not due solely to the regulations under the Transport Act but are due also to the cost of supplying themselves with suitable vehicles, which are of only limited use?

Most of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. On the other part, I have it in mind to allow drivers carrying animals the same concession as has already been provided for agriculture generally at harvest times and for the carriage of fish from ports, namely, a 14-hour working day, a 66-hour working week, and flexibility as regards the weekly rest day.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his answer will be greatly welcomed in Scotland, and that this proposal will probably save a great deal of suffering which would otherwise have taken place in the auction marts this autumn?

I am greatly obliged to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement about assistance from public funds as it affects the medium- and long-term future of the railway lines in the Highlands.

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is considering the future of unremunerative railway passenger services as part of his general study of the country's transport problems. It would be premature to make any firm statement at this stage about services in particular areas.

The Minister will realise that that is a disquieting reply and must cause considerable concern in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, in view of the vital importance of maintaining lines which were threatened under the previous Conservative Administration by the proposals of Lord Beeching. Therefore, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there will be no removal of passenger or freight services until alternative transportation is available?

I am aware that in the past five years twice as many railway lines were closed as in the preceding five years. Under the existing procedures every grant must be reviewed. I assure the hon. Gentleman that no changes will take place in Scotland, or in any other part of the country, without full consultation, and in Scotland without full consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and appropriate Scottish bodies.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the accident rate of the A69 trunk road between Dunton Square and Blucher since the introduction of the 40 miles per hour limit and for the comparable period before introduction of the speed limit.

1·3 injury accidents per million vehicle miles for the 12 months ending 1st May, 1969 and 1·0 injury accidents per million vehicle miles for the 12 months ending 1st May, 1970. Extensive road improvements had taken place during that period.

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Will he now get ahead with completing the review of speed limits on trunk roads and introducing realistic ones, thereby encouraging local authorities to complete their review of principal routes?

It is part of my right hon. Friend's review that we should have realistic speed limits.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will improve safety for children and mothers with prams by widening the footpath on the trunk road Hexham Road, Throckley, near the corner of Coach Road.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has regarding the road-building programme.

It is the Government's intention to pursue an expanding road programme.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. He will recall the spirited and rather waspish independence that he displayed from these benches in the last few years. As he is now a member of a Government which are committed to reducing public expenditure, is he aware that he will have support from this side if he decides to resist any attempts to cut down the road building programme?

Independent occasionally, perhaps; waspish never.

Has my right hon. Friend's attention been drawn to the document published yesterday by the British Tourist Authority and the British Road Federation emphasising the importance of an expanding road programme for the growth of our tourist industry? Will he give this document his attention?

I have not yet read the document, but it sounds very interesting indeed and I shall greatly look forward to reading it in a world which is, I know, desperately short of reading matter.

I appreciate the Minister's point about reading matter, but will he tell the House what attitude he and his right hon. Friends are taking to the previous Government's road proposals which were published in a White Paper in May? Will the Government go through with that scheme; or will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the level of expenditure on roads will not fall below that envisaged in the White Paper?

The road programme of the previous Government seemed unusually sensible.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to maintain and restore the right of navigation on inland waterways.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to nagivation rights on the inland waterways of the British Waterways Board. This is one of the matters which my right hon. Friend will be reviewing in due course.

I hope that my hon. Friend will give sympathetic consideration to the representations made to him by the various bodies of canal users.

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to require local road authorities to list well-known short cuts in their areas and give urgent attention to eliminating danger spots on these roads.

No, Sir. Highway authorities already have powers to do this.

Will my hon. Friend urge highways authorities to make a particular study of these places, because these are the places where the maximum number of accidents of a minor nature but still very costly in the aggregate occur?

It might help if my hon. Friend would let me have specific examples because, obviously, we would want to draw them to the attention of the highway authority concerned as this is a matter for the highway authority.

By what power are highway authorities beginning to signpost short cuts and other English country roads in kilometres?

This is a matter entirely for the highway authorities concernd.

asked the Minister of Transport what compensation will be given to owners of houses deleteriously affected by the building of new urban motorways.

Under present arrangements, no compensation is in general payable unless land is taken.

The whole basis of compensation is under review.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that next to a house bought by his Ministry at a fair price for motorway land there is often a house in which one's constituents have put all their savings and which has become unsaleable? Is this not very unfair?

I would not seek in any way to deny the existence of the problem, which is, indeed, becoming increasingly serious.

Is the Minister aware that another aspect of the problem is that contractors when building motorways through urban areas frequently cause great damage to houses and that, although they are very good on apologies, they are weak on giving real help to the people concerned? Will he investigate?

If the hon. Gentleman or any other hon. Gentleman cares to bring any case to my attention, of course I will have it examined.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that amendment of the general law of compensation so as to give it where a house is made uninhabitable although no land is taken is urgently needed from the point of view of both common justice and ensuring the acceptability of urban motorways?

As I hope I have already indicated, I would not dream of denying the gravity of the problem, but at this stage I do not think I should go beyond saying that the whole problem of compensation is under review.

Do something.

The hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) may exhort me to do something, but I hope he will give me time.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has decided the route of the Queens Drive-Tarbock section of the M62 motorway.

No, Sir. We will do so as soon as possible.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many houses on that section are now unsaleable? Can he speed up the decision?

We are aware of the urgency of the problem.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects the middle section of the M4 to be completed.

By the end of 1971.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that will be very good news for many people, particularly those travelling to South Wales? Is he further aware that I have asked this question many times over the last three years but that now that I am in his capable hands I have no need to ask it again because the date will be kept?

I thank my hon. Friend for what he has said. I am sure that under this Government answers will not change as the months pass.

asked the Minister of Transport when a start will be made on the extension of the north orbital road from Maple Cross to Hurston Bridge.

In 1972, I hope.

Is that a definite promise or just a hope?

The hon. Gentleman knows that there remain certain outstanding statutory procedures, but we hope to do as I have said by the end of 1972.

asked the Minister of Transport when the route of the A41 bypass, King's Langley to Tring, will be published.

In a few months' time, Sir.

Is my hon. Friend aware that planning blight has descended on the line of this road and has been in effect for a considerable time? If there is to be this further delay, will he make special arrangements to deal with planning blight?

My hon. Friend will appreciate the anxiety of the whole House about this problem, but we cannot deal with this scheme otherwise than according to the normal statutory processes. They are complicated, but we must try to reach the best decision we can.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the importance of Dover as a port and of the traffic congestion in Dover, he will consider extending the M2 round the town to the eastern arm of Dover harbour.

No, Sir. We shall be prepared to consider extending the A2 around the town of Dover only when traffic requirements are shown to justify it.

Does my hon. Friend realise that the problem is urgent and the threat to Dover as a town and port is such as to justify an early extension? Will he give an assurance that he will not use as a pretext the possibility of a Channel Tunnel, as the previous Administration did?

I can answer my hon. Friend in specific terms dealing purely with Dover. Conditions should be considerably relieved by the York Street diversion scheme, which will help all traffic, not just traffic to the eastern docks, and, as my hon. Friend knows, there are other schemes under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now allow the introduction of a speed limit in the village of Brookland, Romney Marsh.

No, Sir. I do not think that a speed limit would be justified.

My hon. Friend has given a disappointing answer. Will he, please, not rely on the argument put up by his predecessor, now on the benches opposite, that there have not been enough accidents to warrant a speed limit? This is a dangerous stretch of road. Will he look into it again?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that we must use speed limits only where they will be observed. The feeling is that on this stretch of road they would not be warranted.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost of the introduction of tachographs to monitor drivers' hours as provided for in the Transport Act, 1968.

£30 million for the 650,000 goods vehicles for which tachographs might be required to be fitted if Section 97 of the Act were to be implemented.

This would be an excessively costly requirement. Will my right hon. Friend see fit to cancel it?

I have no present intention of introducing a scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the annual estimated cost to the Government and to industry of the quantity licensing provisions in the Transport Act, 1968.

It is unnecessary to cost the effect of these cumbersome provisions, as they will be repealed at the first opportunity and will meanwhile remain inoperative.

That is welcome news. Has my right hon. Friend any statement to make on carriers licensing?

I am considering the possibility of ending the existing system of carriers licensing for large vehicles, and I have invited comments from road and rail interests.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the future of the Humber Bridge project.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed building of the Humber Bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions he has had with the Humber Bridge Board; and if he will make a statement about a date for the construction of the bridge.

We are studying the proposals for the Humber Bridge, but I am not yet able to make a statement.

Is the hon. Gentleman saying that the Government are not prepared to go ahead with this most important project, especially in the light of statements made by his right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology about the importance of infrastructure improvement within development and intermediate areas? Does the hon. Gentleman realise that what he has said seems to bear out the worst forebodings which many of us had at the last election, that the Tories would not build the bridge?

The bridge has, I think, suffered from a surfeit of statements, even if some of them coincided with opportune by-elections. It would be quite wrong for the hon. Gentleman to construe my remarks in the way he did.

The last Government promised us the bridge and then would not provide any money for its construction. Will my hon. Friend try to do better, and can he say when he hopes to be able to make a firm statement?

It was, perhaps, regrettable that the promise was made for votes and not with the intention of proceeding with the bridge. We fully realise that this is a matter of great concern. We are examining it. Obviously, it has important implications for the whole area.

Will the hon. Gentleman take it that I was looking forward to the chance of thanking him today for reaffirming a pledge given by a former Socialist Minister to build the bridge?

How long did the hon. Gentleman and his Government take?

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that all sections of the public, all parties, and all commerce and industry on Humberside badly want the bridge? It is impossible to plan Humberside without linking the two banks. Why cannot he give a definite answer?

I have already explained that we consider the bridge project to be of great importance. We want to consider it in great depth. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would not want us to make statements until it has been thoroughly examined by the new Administration.

It is not true that, as the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) said, we sanctioned the bridge and were not prepared to provide funds. It is well known that we were interested in the infrastructure and the approach roads. When the Parliamentary Secretary speaks of reviewing the situation, does that mean that what he is determining is whether he will improve on the date which we had set as 1972?

The hon. Gentleman should be fully aware that, far from making money available, the previous Administration made clear that they would not do so and that the bridge would be financed by tolls. That is the situation, and it very much commends itself to us at this moment.

Is my hon. Friend, perhaps, not able to give an immediate decision because he has in mind that intermediate areas in the region would be better served by, for example, improving the trunk roads between the Humberside ports and the Yorkshire wool textile district?

My hon. Friend will expect us to consider those matters as part of our general survey.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration he has given to the report entitled, "Towards 1990—An Independent Proposal for the Integration of Public Transport in Wessex", a copy of which is in his possession.

This report, recently received, is being studied by my Department.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply, but will he not agree that, in view of the inadequacy of the transport system in the area and the plans for extensive development, there is an urgent need for a better integrated transport system in Wessex?

The report was received only on 3rd July. While there are many interesting aspects to it, including the relationship which it may have with the South Hampshire Study, we must have more time to consider it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on his policy in relation to speeding up road traffic, preventing traffic jams, easing road congestion at peak periods and encouraging road-users to use public transport during peak periods by a system of cheaper fares between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

This is a somewhat large matter. I am prepared to consider any means of securing this desirable objective.

The question of differential fares at peak periods is one for transport operators.

I thank the Minister for that encouraging reply. Does he realise that everyone now is saying that if we go on as we are our big cities will come to a halt at peak periods? Is it not advisable to get road users who use a car for only one person to change to public transport, if need be by letting them go on the buses free of charge, which would help the police to maintain the flow of traffic?

This is a subject on which a wide variety of solutions is contemplated, many of which are being tried or experimented with by the local authorities. But there can be no global solution, and directing people to go from private to public transport is not an idea which we should immediately commend.

Will the Minister, while considering this matter, at least take action to prevent the Manchester area transport authority, the S.E.L.N.E.C., from carrying into effect its penal suggestion of surcharges during these periods?

The hon. Gentleman will recall that it was his party when in Government which gave the power to the people of Manchester to make up their own mind locally, which they have now done. The matter is subject to investigation by the traffic commissioners.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the planned completion date of the Boughton bypass, A2.

The end of 1974, I hope.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the extreme local anxiety about this long-delayed extension of the A2, and will he do everything in his power to ensure that the work is carried out at the earliest possible opportunity?

I am aware of the problem; it has been raised by other hon. Members. Unfortunately, there have been objections to the draft order under Section 7 of the Highways Act, 1959. An order under Section 9 and a compulsory purchase order are to be published, and these may in turn attract further objections.

asked the Minister of Transport what stage has been reached in his plans for the extension of the M62 east of the A1 towards Kingston upon Hull.

Proposals for the route from Rawcliffe to Balkholme were published in April. We hope to publish proposals for the route from Ferrybridge to Rawcliffe later this year.

Does the Minister agree that there is a glaring omission in that the M62 goes only to Gilberdyke, 12 miles short of Hull? Is not it spoiling the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar not to take it on to the city?

It is often practicable to deal with stretches of motorway only in isolation. I wish it were possible to do otherwise. But I am sure that the hon. Gentleman realises that local factors must be taken into account.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that traffic to the third port of the country is being throttled by appalling East-West communications? Will he do his very best to speed up new roads in the area?

This is one of the many claims put to us.

Is the Minister aware that the recent discovery that the canal bridges to the east of Ferrybridge are in need of repair makes the M62 an even more urgent problem?

There are very lengthy and detailed statutory procedures through which one must go. There is no way of avoiding these, though we might consider doing something to reduce the time involved.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will announce formal approval of the second stage of development of the container terminal at Greenock as proposed to him by the Clyde Port Authority.