: It is SERA that makes the final decision on prioritisation. Indeed, had I not been in this debate today, I would have been addressing its plenary session, explaining the importance of regional prioritisation and perhaps even the importance of this road. Unfortunately, the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my...

: It is SERA that makes the final decision on prioritisation. Indeed, had I not been in this debate today, I would have been addressing its plenary session, explaining the importance of regional prioritisation and perhaps even the importance of this road. Unfortunately, the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my...

: I certainly accept that we should have that meeting before making the decision—there is no question about that. The issue in my mind is whether it would be helpful to have the meeting in advance of receiving the regional priorities. It might be a good idea for the south-east...

: I certainly accept that we should have that meeting before making the decision—there is no question about that. The issue in my mind is whether it would be helpful to have the meeting in advance of receiving the regional priorities. It might be a good idea for the south-east...

: My hon. Friend mentions the assembly and the South East England Development Agency. Which body makes the decision on the prioritisation: SERA or SEEDA?

: My hon. Friend mentions the assembly and the South East England Development Agency. Which body makes the decision on the prioritisation: SERA or SEEDA?

: I was indeed about to come to that. It is not for me to offer meetings with the Secretary of State and it would not normally be for the Secretary of State to have a meeting on this matter. I am the roads Minister and the advice to the...

: I was indeed about to come to that. It is not for me to offer meetings with the Secretary of State and it would not normally be for the Secretary of State to have a meeting on this matter. I am the roads Minister and the advice to the...

: Does the Minister accept that if he is still considering the result of the independent inquiry, this isa particularly good time for him to meet me and the hon. Member for Portsmouth, North so that we can express the concerns of our constituents and he can consider them before...

: Does the Minister accept that if he is still considering the result of the independent inquiry, this isa particularly good time for him to meet me and the hon. Member for Portsmouth, North so that we can express the concerns of our constituents and he can consider them before...

: I hope that I am not about to ask the Minister something that he was about to come to. The concern that the hon. Member for Portsmouth, North and I have is that, although this Chamber is a good forum in which to raise the issue, we need to...

: I hope that I am not about to ask the Minister something that he was about to come to. The concern that the hon. Member for Portsmouth, North and I have is that, although this Chamber is a good forum in which to raise the issue, we need to...

: I certainly accept that we are talking about a large sum of money, and that it will make serious inroads into the regional budget. However, that does not excuse the region from its duty of giving us an indication of what priority it gives the scheme. To be fair...

: I certainly accept that we are talking about a large sum of money, and that it will make serious inroads into the regional budget. However, that does not excuse the region from its duty of giving us an indication of what priority it gives the scheme. To be fair...

: I cannot give the hon. Gentleman precise details, but I can certainly say that we will conclude the examination as expeditiously as possible. That will not be a very long time away, but it certainly will not be a matter of days; it is a complicated process. It involves...

: I cannot give the hon. Gentleman precise details, but I can certainly say that we will conclude the examination as expeditiously as possible. That will not be a very long time away, but it certainly will not be a matter of days; it is a complicated process. It involves...

: Does the Minister accept that because of the significant costs of the scheme, to which he alluded earlier, there is a real risk that if it is re-designated as a regional rather than a national scheme, it will simply not go ahead? That is because the sums of money...

: Does the Minister accept that because of the significant costs of the scheme, to which he alluded earlier, there is a real risk that if it is re-designated as a regional rather than a national scheme, it will simply not go ahead? That is because the sums of money...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way and allowing me, as the Member for Portsmouth, North, to make a point. On freight, at the moment we are not allowed to increase the container size on our railways, so it is likely that more freight will have to be carried...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way and allowing me, as the Member for Portsmouth, North, to make a point. On freight, at the moment we are not allowed to increase the container size on our railways, so it is likely that more freight will have to be carried...

It has been said that the definition of a politician is someone who says when there is light at the end of the tunnel, ““Let's go out and build some more tunnel.”” On this occasion, I only wish that that were the case, because my constituency desperately needs a tunnel....

It has been said that the definition of a politician is someone who says when there is light at the end of the tunnel, ““Let's go out and build some more tunnel.”” On this occasion, I only wish that that were the case, because my constituency desperately needs a tunnel....

: We are trying to build a venue for conferences in my constituency, but we are being told that conference organisers will not send delegates through that bottleneck, particularly at the peak times, so we are losing out on conference traffic. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that that is yet...

: We are trying to build a venue for conferences in my constituency, but we are being told that conference organisers will not send delegates through that bottleneck, particularly at the peak times, so we are losing out on conference traffic. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that that is yet...

: The hon. Lady again makes an important point—the implications of not having a tunnel stretch way beyond my constituency. Her city is trying hard to catch up with the affluence that is common to the rest of the south-east, but in which Portsmouth has so far been unable to...

: The hon. Lady again makes an important point—the implications of not having a tunnel stretch way beyond my constituency. Her city is trying hard to catch up with the affluence that is common to the rest of the south-east, but in which Portsmouth has so far been unable to...

: The hon. Lady makes an important point. Portsmouth carries more than 1 million tonnes of freight per annum and is the fourth largest local economy in the south-east of England. However, of those top four economies, it is the only one without a motorway connection to London and the...

: The hon. Lady makes an important point. Portsmouth carries more than 1 million tonnes of freight per annum and is the fourth largest local economy in the south-east of England. However, of those top four economies, it is the only one without a motorway connection to London and the...

: I am grateful to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) for securing this debate and bringing his concerns to the House. I think that we can start by accepting that there is some common ground. The stretch of road that we are talking about undoubtedly suffers from...

: I am grateful to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) for securing this debate and bringing his concerns to the House. I think that we can start by accepting that there is some common ground. The stretch of road that we are talking about undoubtedly suffers from...

: Is the Minister able to give me any indication of when he expects the three Secretaries of State to come to their conclusion about the inspector's report? I am grateful to him for mentioning that the inspector's report was concluded at the end of August, because I did not...

: Is the Minister able to give me any indication of when he expects the three Secretaries of State to come to their conclusion about the inspector's report? I am grateful to him for mentioning that the inspector's report was concluded at the end of August, because I did not...

: On the point about national significance and regional significance, I was reading in the national newspapers this morning about the national Olympics in 2012 and the massive boost to tourism that it will bring. My constituents hope that we will benefit from the huge tourism potential of our naval...

: On the point about national significance and regional significance, I was reading in the national newspapers this morning about the national Olympics in 2012 and the massive boost to tourism that it will bring. My constituents hope that we will benefit from the huge tourism potential of our naval...

: I absolutely agree with the hon. Lady. The Olympics is a huge opportunity not just for London but for the whole country, and particularly for areas such as her constituency that need regeneration. We should grasp that opportunity for Portsmouth. We must however recognise the threat in my constituency...

: I absolutely agree with the hon. Lady. The Olympics is a huge opportunity not just for London but for the whole country, and particularly for areas such as her constituency that need regeneration. We should grasp that opportunity for Portsmouth. We must however recognise the threat in my constituency...

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the A3 at Hindhead.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the A3 at Hindhead.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the inspector's report into the A3 Hindhead improvement scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the inspector's report into the A3 Hindhead improvement scheme.