Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by David Clelland (Labour). It was answered on Friday, 25 September 2009 on behalf of the North East Regional Grand Committee.

A1 (North)

Question: I support the measures to be taken to improve the A1 north of Newcastle and eventually to continue the dual carriageway right the way from Newcastle up to Edinburgh, but as my right hon. Friend the Minister knows, the whole question of our regional road infrastructure needs serious examination. Notwithstanding the works that are now going on south of Scotch Corner to link finally the A1 in the north of England to the rest of the motorway system, which is welcome, does he agree that we also need to be linked up to the west of the country over the A66 and A69, which are also two very important routes that are badly in need of an upgrade?

Answer: I agree with that. There are added dimensions, and we need to have discussions with others about the A1 south. A road leading north from Yorkshire is, for the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, a gateway to our region. There are sensitivities regarding that, just as there are with east-west links. In principle, I certainly agree with my hon. Friend that improvement of the road links and the east-west corridor is as important as north-south links. In the longer term, east-west links may turn out to be more important than they are now, but they are at least as important as north-south links.

Secondary information