asked the Minister of Transport if he will now publish the proposed route of the Farnborough to Croydon link of the South Orbital Road, and of the South Orbital Road itself.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Vice-Admiral John Hughes Hallett):

My right hon. Friend has already published the proposed route of the South Orbital Road from the Dartford Tunnel to the A.20 trunk road and will publish proposals for further sections of the road as the preparatory work is completed.

The Farnborough to Croydon link is a potential classified road for which Kent County Council and Croydon County Borough Council are the responsible highway authorities.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Minister wrote to me on 13th March to say that the investigations which were being carried out on his behalf by the Kent County Council on a number of alternative routes had already been completed and were under consideration by his Department? What, therefore, is the reason for this further three months' delay? Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate that until a decision is made, consideration of planning applications all along the alternative routes which might be selected must be deferred and that great anxiety will be caused to local residents along any one of the possible alternatives? In view of this, will the Minister consider publishing a map showing all the alternatives which are under consideration by the Department?

Thirdly, does the Minister realise that one of the proposed alternative routes passes through the municipal golf course which the Orpington Urban District Council was hoping to start constructing this summer? As this is an amenity which is very much desired by the people of Orpington, will the Minister come to a decision quickly?

We appreciate the importance of avoiding unnecessary anxiety. That is why we must be satisfied that the best line has been chosen before the proposals are advertised. I cannot agree with the hon. Member that it would be wise to publish all the alternative suggestions which are put forward. That would merely multiply anxiety, in many cases quite needlessly.