§ 101. Mr. WINDSORasked the Minister of Transport what was the revenue of the Road Fund for the year 1925, and what proportion this bears to the proposed cost of the schemes of road maintenance, construction, realignment, and improvement already contemplated; and whether 645 he is considering any proposal by the Treasury to divert some of this money which is pledged to road uses to other and unspecified purposes?
§ Colonel ASHLEYIf the hon. Member will refer to paragraph 68 of the Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for the year 1924–25, he will see that the whole of the revenue for the current financial year (estimated at £16,700,000) has been made available for works of road maintenance, construction, re-alignment and improvement. As regards the last part of the question, various matters affecting the future administration of the Road Fund are under consideration, but I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the subject.
Sir F. HALLWill the right hon. Gentleman oppose any Measure that may be brought forward for the utilisation of the Road Fund for purposes other than those for which it was originally instituted?
§ 102. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Transport what is the present financial position of the Road Fund; and what total of moneys has been paid out from the fund for road making, improvements and repairs during 1925?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to pages 3, 22 and 23 of the Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for 1924–25. He will find there set out the financial position of the Road Fund at the 31st March last and the amounts allocated during the current financial year for grants to various purposes.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI should be very much obliged if the right hon. Gentleman would say how much money he has got in hand now. That is the question which I put on the paper.
§ Colonel ASHLEYI could not say at the present moment. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put down a question I will answer it.