§ 52. Sir COOPER RAWSONasked the Minister of Transport how much money has been granted or loaned by the Ministry in respect of the widening of 2103 the London-Brighton road to a distance of approximately 10 miles north of Brighton; and if he can state whether German slag is being considered as an aggregate for the laying of any portion of this road?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel W. Ashley)As regards the first part of the question, I will communicate with my hon. Friend. As regards the latter part, owing to shortage of supplies due to the coal stoppage it was necessary to consider the utilisation of various materials not prescribed in the original specification. Among the materials considered for substitution was foreign slag. Now that the coal stoppage has fortunately come to an end, I hope that this expedient will not. have to be adopted.
§ Mr. SULLIVANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was no stoppage in respect to slag, and that there was always plenty available?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe hon. Member may be happy to learn that no foreign slag was used.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLConsidering that the London to Brighton road has been under repair for the last four or five years, has the right hon. Gentleman any idea when the work is likely to be completed?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThat does not arise out of the original question.
§ Sir C. RAWSONThe right hon. Gentleman says that he hopes this practice will not recur. Can he give a definite assurance that it will not recur, in view of the fact that there are hundreds of tons available in this country?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI did not say that it would not recur. I said that we should not have to adopt it. As a matter of fact, no foreign slag has been used.