Mr. T. Williams:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made on the Doncaster by-pass road; how many workers are at present employed on the undertaking; and what is the time-table to which the authorities are working.

Tenders were invited during January and are due to be received today. As my right hon. Friend told the House last week, we hope that work on the by-pass, which will be a motor road and take about two years to complete, will begin in the early summer.

Mr. Williams:

Can the Minister explain why there is such shocking delay in starting this important scheme? Can the hon. Gentleman remind the Minister of Transport of his experience when he tried to get through Doncaster and could not?

I do not accept that there has been a shocking delay. We are pressing on extremely well with our road schemes, and I think everyone will welcome this one.

Mr. Williams:

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us when physical work will start on the scheme?

I answered that question at the end of the substantive Answer. It will begin in the early summer.