§ 35. Mr. BRIDGEMANasked the Secretary to the Treasury why the total cost of the works to which the Road Board made Grants does not appear in this year's Report as in former Reports?
Mr. BENNAs explained in paragraph 18 of the Report, the omission of Appendix 2 (List of Grants) of the Third Annual Report of the Road Board of the estimated cost of each work is due to the fact that in many cases the amount of the Grant is determined, not by the cost of the proposed work, but by the amount of money which can be allocated to a particular work.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANWill the hon. Gentleman say what percentage of the total cost is paid by the Road Board?
§ 36. Mr. BRIDGEMANasked why there is no entry of the amounts of the various investments shown in the last Report of the Road Board?
Mr. BENNThe hon. Member will find in Appendix 16, page 66, of the Third Annual Report of the Road Board a complete statement of the various investments made by the Board in the year ending 31st March, 1913, together with a list of the investments and amounts held by the Board at that date.
§ 37. Mr. BRIDGEMANasked why the amount granted to Welsh counties, whose roads are often hilly and costly to maintain and which are largely used by tourists, has been so small?
Mr. BENNI understand that the Grants indicated by the Road Board to highway authorities in administrative counties in Wales, including Monmouthshire, amounted 717 to £106,962 up to the 30th June, 1913. The Board do not consider this amount as small, having regard to the funds available. The hon. Member will find, if he refers to the Local Taxation Returns, that the maintenance of roads in Welsh counties is not exceptionally costly.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANWill the hon. Gentleman inform the Road Board that the roads are largely used by tourists, and that therefore it is not fair that the local authority should pay?
Mr. BENNCertainly I will inform the Road Board as to what the hon. Gentleman has said. Perhaps he will make representations himself.