§ 74. Mr. LAWSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an agreement has been arrived at between his Department and the Ministry of Transport whereby a proportion of the income of the Road Fund will next year be used for other purposes; and whether he is prepared to make a statement on the subject?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)Any proposals in regard to the future relations between the Road Fund and the Exchequer which the Government may decide to make to Parliament would in the normal course be embodied in the Budget statement.
§ Mr. LAWSONMight I ask if the new road schemes are being held up in the meantime?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would ask for notice of that question.
§ Mr. LAWSONMight I ask the right hon. Gentleman if an extremely important road scheme between Durham and Newcastle has been held up now for some months on the ground that there is no money in the Road Fund?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI could not at present answer that question. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer!"] I must ask for notice of it.
§ Mr. LAWSONMight I ask the right hon. Gentleman if, pending a decision on the Road Fund, he is definitely holding up new schemes throughout the country?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWell, Sir, I have answered the question which is on the Paper. Now I am asked a question which is not on the Paper, and which has no relation to the question on the Paper. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] If I am to do justice to that question, and give an answer which embodies the full information at the disposal of the Government, I am entitled, in the ordinary course, to the usual notice.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs there any truth in the statement which has appeared in the Press from time to time that the right hon. Gentleman intends to standardise this Fund?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat question, though perhaps not expressed in exactly the same form as the hon. Member has adopted, is fully covered by the answer I have already given.