§ 34. Mr. BLACKasked the Minister of Transport whether he is now prepared to state what grants can be given to rural district councils towards the maintenance and improvement of third-class and unclassified roads in their areas?
§ Mr. GOSLINGBeyond the allocation of £2,750,000 from the Road Fund revenues for 1923–24 and 1924–25, for the improvement of important roads in rural areas in Great Britain, no moneys are at present available for grants towards the cost of ordinary maintenance and improvement of roads not included in Class I or Class II.
§ Mr. BLACKIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the very serious feeling as to unfair treatment on the part of district councils, and that in the interests of the travelling public these roads will not be attended to unless there is a further grant given?
§ Colonel ASHLEYMay I ask the hon. Gentleman to make his answer clearer? Is he aware that last year a special grant of £1,500,000 was made for unclassified roads to rural district councils? What grant is he going to make, or has he made, for this financial year, for the same purpose?
§ Mr. GOSLINGI am not aware that there is unfair treatment or any ground for the feeling that there is unfair treatment.
§ Mr. STURROCK rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf, on every question, we are to have five supplementary 216 questions, it is unfair to those Members whose questions appear later on the Order Paper.