§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the inconvenience caused by the toll bars which are maintained at the present time on the main roads to and from Middlesbrough; whether he is aware that on the main road from Middlesbrough to South Bank there are three toll bars within less than a mile of each other, and that there is only one main road from Middlesbrough which is free from toll; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the number of toll bars at present in existence in England, and the conditions of their existence, with a view 55 to promoting legislation giving power to local authorities to take over and maintain the roads and dispense with toll bars without compensation, and to prevent the erection of toll bars in the future.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) My attention has been called to the existence of toll bars on roads leading out of Middlesbrough, and I am in communication with the town council of the borough with regard to the matter. I have no information to show that there is need for inquiry as to the number of toll bars in existence in England and the other matter referred to in the last part of the Question, and I could not promise to promote legislation dealing with the subject.