§ 41. Colonel GRETTONasked the Minister of Transport what large works
261 are in progress chargeable, or partly chargeable, to the Road Fund, and the amounts estimated as remaining to be paid by the Road Fund and by the local authorities in each case; and if any large undertakings are about to be begun?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe larger works carried out by local authorities with assistance from the Road Fund are too numerous to be comprised in a reply to a Parliamentary question, but their scope may be gauged from the figures which I quoted on 22nd November in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Tamworth Division (Sir E. Iliffe) and of which I am sending my right hon. and gallant Friend a copy. The sums allocated from the revenues of the Road Fund, for the current financial year, to assist works of improvement or new construction, as distinguished from "maintenance," are set out in paragraph 78 of the last Annual Report on the Administration of the Road Fund.
§ Colonel GRETTONCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how far the Road Fund is pledged for works in the years to come after this year?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI could not give the exact figures without notice.
§ Colonel GRETTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this information is asked for in the question, and can he not, after consideration, answer it in the form of a Paper?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI can give the right hon. and gallant Member figures for the works expedited for the relief of unemployment. There is £15,000,000 still unspent of which £10,000,000 is from the Road Fund, and £5,000,000 from the local authorities.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it not a fact that works have been held up in consequence of the fact that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has pinched millions out of the Fund?