Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Metcalfe Excerpts

Thursday 12th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Barwell (Croydon Central) (Con)]

4. What steps she is taking to improve road infrastructure.

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

10. What steps she is taking to improve road infrastructure.

[Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con)]

13. What steps she is taking to improve road infrastructure.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mike Penning]

I am always more than happy to meet colleagues, especially to discuss the A23, which is a much-improved road since the Hindhead link tunnel was opened. The stretch of the A23 about which my hon. Friend is concerned is mainly a matter for the Mayor, but I am more than happy to help in any way I can.

[Stephen Metcalfe]

The Minister is aware of the importance to the national economy of the Dartford crossing, and he is introducing plans to increase capacity. However, to get the maximum benefit from those improvements work must be done on junctions 30 and 31 of the M25. When will the Minister publish detailed, costed plans for those improvements, which are especially important given the developments that have taken place in the Thames Gateway?

[Mike Penning]

I can tell my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock—[Interruption.] My hon. Friend the Member for South Basildon and East Thurrock (Stephen Metcalfe); I apologise for having got the constituency name wrong, but it is a long time since I stood for election in that part of the world. We are currently working on the costings for junctions 30 and 31. As my hon. Friend will be aware, the fantastic investment by DP World at the Gateway port means there will be work at junction 30, and we will publish proposals as soon as we can.