§ 44. Mr. CAREWasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that during the past year no less than 152,000 tons of timber, a large portion of which was for pit-props to be used in Government-controlled mines, has been hauled over the main and district roads in eighteen of the urban and rural districts of Devonshire, causing damage estimated at £24,373; as this traffic, although for Government purposes, was not carried directly by Government Departments but by private persons, will he consider in what way highway authorities are to be reimbursed for the damage done to the roads; will he also state the policy the Government propose to adopt with reference to claims in respect of damage by private timber hauliers; and whether the Road Board are to be asked to report and make recommendations upon such claims in the same way as they have hitherto done with regard to traffic for which Government Departments are directly responsible?
Sir A. STANLEYMy attention has not been called to the particular haulage referred to, but arrangements have been made for dealing with extraordinary claims for damage to roads by timber haulage, whether by the Timber Supply Department or private timber merchants, in cases where the timber is to be used for purposes of national importance. Such claims will be dealt with by the Lands Branch of the War Office under Treasury instructions and in consultation with the Road Board.