§ 38. Mr. B. SMITHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will sanction sufficient grants out of the Road Fund to enable the following works to be started during the present financial year; the western half of the Western Avenue, tenders for which were advertised in January, 1926, by the Middlesex County Council and then not let on Treasury instructions; the bridges over the Thames at Mortlake and Richmond, forming part of the new Chertsey Road; and the remaining; section of the London North Circular Road?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)I came to the conclusion last year that the section of the Western Avenue to which the hon. Member refers was a work which could not take priority over many other schemes which were before me. But with assistance form the Road Fund, works on a considerable scale are in progress on the Western Avenue and the North Circular Road and the acquisition of land is proceeding to safeguard the future course of the new Chertsey Road and its bridges. It is not possible to state at present what further instalments of these schemes can be assisted during the present financial year. This must depend upon a close examination of the relative urgency of these particular works as compared with others contemplated in the metropolitan area and elsewhere.