This is the problem. Nobody has any doubts about the solution. We are all agreed that the need is to make Lloyd Hill a dual carriageway.

I have been doing a bit of research since I was told that I could raise this subject on the Adjournment. The account of the battle which has taken place so far makes rather sordid reading. To the best of my knowledge, the pressure to get these improvements made began in 1956 when it was estimated that they would cost about £150,000. In June, 1963, the then Minister of Transport advised that the scheme could not be included in the programme up to the financial year 1967–68. This news was greeted with great dismay by Stafford County Council which protested most vigorously to the Ministry against this decision. But still nothing was done about improving Lloyd Hill.

In January, 1966, the Stafford County Council wrote to the late Stephen Swingler stressing the urgency of the scheme and asking that a deputation should be received at the Ministry from the county council to put as forcefully as possible the case for including this scheme in the Estimates as soon as possible. For some unknown reason, the Ministry refused to accept a deputation.

In February, 1967, we were told that the scheme was included in a list of "preparation pool" schemes, whatever that may mean. This time the estimated cost had gone up to £386,000. In April, 1968, the late Mr. Swingler wrote to me stating that information was being collected on which a decision about the inclusion of the scheme in the firm programme would be made. By this time the estimated cost had risen to £416,000.

In May, 1968, the principal road programme of the Government was announced, and again Lloyd Hill was not included. This caused serious concern to Stafford County Council. Therefore, in June, 1968, it again requested the Ministry to receive a deputation so that the urgency of the scheme could be impressed on it. By this time the estimated cost had risen to £431,000.

In August, 1968, the Ministry informed the county council that a decision on the scheme was imminent and therefore suggested that the request for a deputation should be held in abeyance, and, because the county council felt that at last something would be done, it acceded to the Ministry's suggestion and deferred its request for a deputation.

However, in October, 1968, nothing further had been heard from the Ministry. Therefore, the county council again said that it would like a deputation to attend the Ministry to put its case. On 29th October, 1968, it received a letter from the Ministry confirming the programming of the scheme for the financial year 1969–70. This news was received with great joy in the area because people felt that at last something would be done.

The local newspaper, the Express and Star, devoted its leader column to the subject on 2nd November, 1968, when it said: For many moons we have been urging that something be done about the mile long stretch of road between Wolverhampton and Stour-bridge known as Lloyd-hill. It is to be widened and made into a dual carriageway as part of an improvement scheme which will cost half a million pounds. And it is money which will be well spent. At the present time this is an essential traffic link between M6 and M5, and even when the Warley Box Junction is completed, giving direct motorway access between those two roads, Lloyd-hill will still be carrying a vast volume of traffic. We would, however, utter a warning to all motorists. Rome was not built in a day. During the period that the work is being undertaken there will be even greater delays and there will be even greater inconveniences. We can imagine that our letter bag will receive the expression of much of this discontent. It is important, however, to remember that in order for things to become better they sometimes first have to become worse. This is going to be an example of that sort of thing. For our part we will not have much sympathy to spare for those who moan about the temporary inconvenience which is going to be caused while the work is in progress. You have been warned. I think that was a very fair leader, because it warned people that the work was going to be done and that while it was going to be done there was going to be a great deal of inconvenience, but the ultimate benefits for the area would be extremely worth while.

From the date of that leader, however, the plot has thickened. I have been assured by Staffordshire County Council that there has been no delay on its part and that the hold up has been due entirely to the fact that the Ministry has not given the county council the go ahead to get on with this work. On 2nd June of this year I was told by the Ministry that the necessary legal processes were under way with a view to work commencing early in 1970, and this was in accord with the pledge which was given that the work was to be done in the financial year 1969–70. Then suddenly, in July of this year, I was told that the Ministry's aim was to start the work on the improvements in June, 1970—in other words, not the financial year 1969–70 as promised. But even June, 1970, was not a firm date, because there was a proviso that a great deal depended upon the progress with land acquisition procedures which are about to begin. This was in July of this year. I should like to know how that is compatible with the statement given to me by the Ministry of Transport on 2nd June. The latest information I have been given by Staffordshire County Council is that it is expecting work to start on 1st August, 1970. So it would seem that the date for this very necessary improvement to take place goes further and further back in the calendar.

Therefore, I am most grateful to have been allowed time to raise the subject on the Adjournment tonight and I hope that the Joint Parliamentary Secretary will give me some assurances. I should like to hear from him his explanation of the delays which have taken place and particularly why this work was not included in the 1969–70 programme as promised. I should be very grateful if also he could give me some idea of the estimated cost of this scheme now. Thirdly, I should like to know if we can have a firm date from him for the commencement of this work, because I can assure him that the people who use this road are sick to death of promises and that what they want is action.