HLG 159/158

Ministry of Transport

Date range	1970-1971
Location	National Archives (see all files stored here)
Catalogue	See entry
File base	Series HLG, subseries HLG 159

This file is a waste of time. You are advised to avoid it like the plague. Its file title sounds rather interesting but it may contain only dull papers that fail to illuminate the subject matter or it may not even be related to the subject suggested by the title.

Context

My notes on this file begin with the words "wow, is this ever dull", so you can tell it's not going to be a favourite. The title written on the file (unlike the NA Catalogue listing) is "Department of the Environment (Transport) Evidence", which made me think it might contain evidence given to the GLDP Inquiry by the DoE. That's reasonable enough, right?

Sadly not - it's actually a file about evidence given by the DoE. You don't get to see any of their evidence. You just read civil servants talking about it. The hand-wringing is largely to do with the creation of the DoE part-way through the GLDP inquiry from the smouldering ashes of the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and the Ministry of Public Works. This meant that suddenly - halfway through the inquiry process - the DoE's Secretary of State was now the man responsible for both proposing and confirming trunk road schemes and road scheme funding.

They resolved to be factual and straightforward, which is fine, but it left trunk road schemes and the case for funding GLC road schemes with no government champion at the inquiry, because the DoE felt unable to "sell" the road schemes now that it would be the body rubberstamping or rejecting the inquiry's findings.

That's about it though - and for that one little insight one must wade through a thick file of very tiresome nonsense. Honestly - the things I do for you.

People with camera copies

None known.