10. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, in industrial areas where the rates are already excessive, he will sanction the payment to the local authorities concerned of a larger proportion than 50 per coat. of the cost of main roads authorised by his Department?
§ Mr. GOSLINGIn view of the limited funds at my disposal, and the large number of applications for assistance, it is necessary that the normal rate of grant towards the construction of new roads should be restricted to 50 per cent. of the cost. In a few cases, where the highway rate is abnormally high or other exceptional circumstances exist, assistance has been given towards the cost of important road works at a higher rate than 50 per cent.
Mr. THOMSONIs the Minister aware that, on account of this limited assistance, valuable road work is being held up and unemployment is being increased in consequence?
§ Mr. GOSLINGIf the hon. Member has in mind an application which is being made for additional assistance towards the cost of the new Middlesbrough Road, which is being carried out by the local authorities, I may say that the deputation on the subject is going to be received by the Roads Department this week.
§ 11. Sir DOUGLAS NEWTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry 715 of Transport whether he is prepared to seek powers of a general character to prescribe an improvement line in the case of all roads likely to become main arteries of traffic?
§ Mr. GOSLINGI fully realise the importancce of this question, but I am not in a position to state whether it will be possible to introduce legislation.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYIf the Minister of Transport introduce, as 1 hope he will, an omnibus Bill, I would like to know whether the hon. Gentleman can see his way to incorporate in it this very important provision?
§ Mr. GOSLINGPerhaps I shall be able to tell the right hon. Gentleman a little later on whether I can see my way to do that.