§ MR. MYER (Lambeth, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if, taking into consideration the disrepair of the roads throughout the country, many of which have not been re-metalled for a number of years, he will take steps to compel county, urban, and rural district councils to put such work in hand where necessary, thereby giving employment to many men who are at present a burden on the rates.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI am not empowered to compel the local authorities mentioned in the Question to put in hand work of the kind to which my hon. friend refers. I may, however, draw his attention to Section 10 of the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act, 1878, under which county councils may enforce on highway authorities the performance of their duty in respect of the maintenance or repair of highways, if complaint is made to them on the subject.
§ MR. MYERasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would appoint a Commission to report on the state of the roads throughout the country.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSsaid he could not at this moment comply with the hon. Member's request; but within the last few months work of this kind had been projected which would give work to the type of men mentioned by the hon. Member.