§ 74. Mr. BLACKasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a representative conference of 25 district councils of Leicestershire met on 16th July, and unanimously agreed to ask him to give effect to the decision of the House of Commons of 27th February, 1923, with respect to rural roads, classified and unclassified, and that ordinary licences should only be granted to vehicles of limited weight and pneumatic tyres and that those with solid tyres and of heavier weight should be licensed at a much higher rate of duty; whether he can promise to give effect to these suggestions; and whether he will receive a deputation from the councils upon these urgent matters?
§ Mr. GOSLINGSince the debate in the House to which the hon. Member draws attention, special allocations amounting to £3,750,000 have been made from the Road Fund towards the cost of improvement of important roads in rural areas. As regards the rates of licence duties levied on motor vehicles, I would refer the hon. Member to the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles contained in their Third Interim Report, which has recently been issued, and which is now under consideration. In the circumstances, I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by my receiving a deputation at the present time.
§ Mr. BLACKThe County Council having unanimously passed a resolution, and these district councils being desirous of presenting, not the case of the important main roads, but the case for the maintenance of the ordinary unclassified roads, will the hon. Member receive a deputation? It will not do him any harm.
§ Viscount CURZONCan we receive an assurance that the hon. Member will not make any further contributions towards the Leicestershire roads until they are made fit and proper for vehicles to travel over?
§ Mr. GOSLINGWhen I have seen the Report, I will proceed to consider receiving a deputation.