§ 61. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider making a survey of the roads in the West Highlands where the population is too scanty to maintain highways for the many motor vehicles which come from all parts of Britain and frequent the West Highland roads, and on completion of such survey proceed to reconstruct the principal roads in these areas at the, cost of the Road Fund?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)I explained in reply to my hon. Friend's previous question on the 20th instant that surveys and works were being undertaken along the course of the Inverness-Glasgow road in Argyllshire and adjoining counties, but I am not in a position to extend this exceptional treatment to the whole of the roads in the West Highlands. My hon. Friend will doubtless be aware that substantial 2312 grants are made year by year from the Road Fund to assist the highway authorities, and particularly those in sparsely populated areas, in the maintenance and improvement of their roads.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the long stretches of road in mid-Argyll, where a penny rate only yields £160, and where there are many miles of roads in a very deplorable condition, requiring substantial grants—in particular, the main road between Glasgow and Campbeltown?
§ Colonel ASHLEYExtra assistance is being given to rural authorities for the maintenance of their unclassified roads.