§ 27. Lieut.-Colonel GAULTasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the dangerous surfaces to be found on many parts of our main and secondary country roads, he will recommend to county councils the use of a uniform and safe road surface which will be suitable for horses and beasts as well as motor-driven vehicles?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)I see no possibility of any one particular material being singled out, as being exclusively suitable for all main and secondary roads, seeing how wide are the variations in local conditions, local resources and local traffic.
§ Lieut.-Colonel GAULTCan my right hon. Friend not employ scientific research to provide us with a safe surface for all kinds of traffic in the near future? Does he not think that the use of British granite will, to some extent, solve this problem?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe matter is being investigated, but, as my hon. Friend knows, it is a very difficult thing to provide a surface suitable for all classes of traffic.
§ Sir C. RAWSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree with the definition of the latest section of the road to Romsey as "like a butter slide"?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, Sir; I do not.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether experiments are being undertaken by his Department in this matter?
§ Colonel ASHLEYOh, yes, Sir; very extensive experiments have been undertaken ever since the Bill of last year gave us power to conduct such experiments.