§ 35. Colonel Sir ARTHUR HOLBROOKasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the imports of broken road-stone from foreign countries in the three months ended March totalled 65,546 tons as against 38,675 tons in the same quarter last year, and that in the same period 23,846 tons of setts and kerb were imported, mainly from Norway; and whether, seeing that so many granite and roadstone quarry workers are unemployed in this country, he will make it a condition of grants from the Road Fund that British road material is used?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe figures quoted are, I believe, substantially correct. The policy of my Department regarding grants towards road works was fully explained in the reply which I made to a similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend on 19th March last, and I am not prepared to depart from it.
§ Mr. EVERARDWill the right hon. Gentleman communicate this information to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, so that when the block grants are made for the road services under the Budget he will give a preference to those local authorities that use British granite?
§ Captain STREATFEILDIn view of the very serious nature of unemployment in the stone quarrying industry, can the Minister of Transport influence his colleagues in the Government in regard to the urgent necessity of bringing this industry within the ambit of the Safeguarding of Industries Act?
§ Sir COOPER RAWSONIn view of the many questions which the Minister of Transport has received about this industry, and the nature of the answers, which have not always been satisfactory to the questioners, will he be willing to receive a deputation from Members upon this question?
§ Colonel ASHLEYOh, naturally.