58. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the borough of Middlesbrough 1682 applied for a loan for the repair of their internal roads on 11th May, and, although the Unemployment Grants Committee has made a grant, the work is held up until the sanction of his Ministry is obtained for the loan; and, in view of the large amount of unemployment which has existed in Middlesbrough since the early days of the coal stoppage, will he do all in his power to expedite a decision in order that work may be at once found for unemployed men who have already been out of work for many weeks?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of TRANSPORT (Mr. Neal)I am aware of the facts as stated in the question. The application for a loan was referred to the Ministry of Transport on the 19th May, when it was found that certain details of the scheme called for local examination. The results of these inquiries have just been received, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, is now in a position to make a favourable recommendation on the Borough Council's application.
Mr. THOMSONWill the hon. Gentleman see that there is no delay between one Government Department and another in the local authority receiving a definite reply, as they have already been waiting for four weeks?