§ 40. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the 576 large number of persons drawing out-of-work pay, he will discuss with the Road Board the practicability of finding employment for some of them in concert with the highway authorities upon road work of a character on which a large percentage of unskilled labour can be employed, such as patching, sweeping, and tarring the roads through villages on secondary and minor roads suffering from the dust nuisance, opening up the view at dangerous corners, cleaning out ditches, widening narrow carriage-ways, making footpaths by the side of existing roads, cutting, pruning, removing, or grubbing up hedges, overhanging trees, which obscure the view or prevent light and air from reaching the road, and other urgent and desirable road work which requires to be done in all parts of the country, in addition to the road programme for 1919–20 which has already been approved by the Government?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have already been in communication with the Road Board with a view to the provision of employment on the roads of the country. The Grants now in process of distribution by the Road Board, and the expenditure by highway authorities out of local rates, will provide a considerable amount of employment throughout the country on work of the character mentioned in the question. The Grants for these purposes and for repair of the main roads amount to over£16,300,000. The Board have communicated with the authorities responsible for schemes already approved, pointing out that they are particularly anxious that these works; may be put in hand at the earliest possible moment.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that none of these works are yet in hand, that, the roads are in a very bad condition, and that it is now six months since the Armistice was signed?
§ Sir R. HORNEI cannot add anything: to what I have said. I have been pressing on the matter.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSWill the right hon. Gentleman press it on again?
Colonel THORNEHow many local authorities have been given sums of money by the Local Government Board for the purpose of carrying on this work?
§ Sir R. HORNEI should be required to answer for every Department of the Government if I could answer that question.
§ Mr. LAMBERTIs there no power to get the money spent as soon as possible?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe power is in the hands of the Road Board.
§ Mr. LAMBERTCannot the Road Board be got to act?
§ Mr. JOHN JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a Circular has been issued by the Local Government Board, informing local authorities that they cannot get money from the Public Works Commissioners, but that they have got to float local loans, and that the difficulty of raising money locally at present is absolutely stopping public works?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am not aware of that, I shall be very glad to inquire.
§ Captain W. BENNWhat other Department than that of the right hon. Gentleman represents the Road Board in this House?
§ Sir R. HORNEIn no sense do I represent the Road Board.
§ Captain BENNWho does?