. This is one of the rare occasions when I have the pleasure of finding myself in agreement with my Parliamentary neighbour the hon. Member for Sudbury and Wood-bridge (Mr. Stainton). He is quite right when he says that for a long time there has been great public concern both in Ipswich and in the less advanced areas outside about the hazards of the road between Ipswich and Martlesham. We are concerned about the fact that the accident rate is extremely high—higher, I think, than anywhere else in East Anglia. There have been representations during the last year or two from the East Suffolk County Council, from the local authorities concerned and from the police, all of which have fallen on deaf ears at the Ministry.

This is not a party issue, and I do not desire to make it one, but I should like, first, to refer for a moment to correspondence that has passed over the last two years between the Ministry and the Kesgrave Labour Party, which has taken several initiatives in the matter. As long ago as August, 1962, it pointed out to the Ministry the dangers to children; and the fact that the school population along the whole of this stretch of road is increasing. This year it organised a petition—one of the petitions to which reference has been made—asking again that a speed limit be imposed, and also asking that action should be taken to improve the inadequate lighting of the road.

On 1st May this year, the Ministry wrote to the secretary of the Kesgrave Labour Party in these terms—and I quote one paragraph: The power to light streets is vested by statute in local authorities and the Minister has no power to direct them in this matter. In the case of trunk roads, however, the Minister has power to contribute half the cost of an approved scheme. If the lighting authorities concerned are considering installing lighting on this length of road the Divisional Road Engineer is available to give any advice or assistance they may require. I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary: if a scheme is put forward, will we have a generous reponse from the Ministry?

Secondly, I should like to refer to an Answer I received on 8th April about improvements on this road. The reply was: The improvement of the Dobbs Lane junction should be finished this month. Negotiations for land required at the Edmonton Road junction are in progress and, all going well, the improvement should be finished this summer. The start of work at the Beech Road junction depends on progress made with land acquisition."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th April, 1964; Vol. 692, c. 205.] Can the Minister now elaborate that reply? Can he tell us whether the improvement at the Edmonton Road junction will be finished this summer, and whether the start of the work at the Beech Road junction is to begin, at any rate, during the course of the current year?

I entirely agree with the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge in what he has said about the need for a dual carriageway, and in urging the Ministry to reconsider the question of a speed limit on this stretch of road.