The following question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. WOMERSLEY:30. To ask the Minister of Transport the reasons why he refused the application of the Grimsby Borough Council, made on the 2nd April, for a grant towards the flagging of the footpaths of certain unclassified roads in the borough; and if he will reconsider his decision in view of the fact that the Unemployed Grants Committee refused to entertain a claim for a grant towards this work as it came outside their terms of reference, all schemes of road work being now tinder the Ministry of Transport?
§ Mr. SPEAKERSir Robert Thomas.
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYMay I ask Question No. 30, Mr. Speaker?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member for Grimsby (Mr. Womersley) was not attending.
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYI was attracted by the laughter from hon. Members around me. May I put my question now?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am bound to have some regard to the relative value of improvements from a traffic standpoint, and it is not my practice to make grants towards the class of work to which my hon. Friend refers, namely, the substitution of flagging for asphalt on the footways of unclassified roads in large towns. I regret that I cannot depart from this policy at Grimsby.
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this was put up. as a scheme for the relief of unemployment and was turned down by the Unemployment Grants Committee because they said such schemes had to go to the Minister of Transport? In the reply is the Minister dealing with it as a scheme for the relief of unemployment or as a road scheme?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am dealing with it as a road scheme.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that 849 the hon. Member supported the plundering of the Road Fund, which accounts for this position?
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that he did not?