§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that rural district councils desire to co-operate with county councils in the mitigation of the dust nuisance by spraying the roads with tar; whether the Local Government Board have decided that the rural district councils cannot incur expense in this direction; what are the grounds for this decision; and whether some modification of it is possible, in view of the fact that localities will be greatly benefited by this method of treating the roads.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI am aware of the desire referred to. I presume that the roads to which the hon. Member alludes are main roads. These in rural districts are maintained by the county council, and the question is whether a rural district council can legally contribute towards the cost of spraying them with tar. They could do so if the operation could be brought within the terms of Section 3 of the Highways and Bridges Act, 1891, but I am advised that it cannot safely be held that this is the case.
§ MR. LONSDALEWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire into this during the recess?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSYes; that is one of the matters I hope to go into during the recess.