HC Deb 19 February 1930 vol 235 cc1379-80
89. Major the Marquess of TITCHFIELD

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction in the rural district councils of Nottinghamshire caused by the delegation to the county council of the care and maintenance of the unclassified roads; whether he is aware that the Retford and Basford Councils have been given the right to maintain these unclassified roads, and that the South-well Rural District Council have asked the reason from the Ministry of Transport why the care and maintenance of these roads have been taken from them; that the absence of reply on this matter is causing dissatisfaction; and whether he will give the reasons for his action in the matter?

Mr. HERBERT MORRISON

It has been represented to me that certain of the rural district councils in Nottinghamshire are dissatisfied with my decision on appeals made by them to me under Section 35 of the Local Government Act, 1929, against the refusal of the county council to grant their applications for delegation to the county councils functions in respect of unclassified roads. The grounds on which an application of this kind might be refused by a county council are clearly set out in the Act, and I kept them most carefully in mind when considering these appeals. I have investigated the complaint of the Southwell Rural District Council, and a reply will be sent to that council in the course of the next few days.

91. Mr. ANEURIN BEVAN

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now decided all the appeals which were lodged with him by rural district councils under Section 35 of the Local Government Act, 1929, against refusals of county councils to grant them delegation of highway powers; and, if so, if he will state the total number of such appeals, the number of cases in which the appeal was allowed, and the total number of rural district councils that will have these powers delegated to them?

Mr. MORRISON

I have now decided all the appeals made to me by rural district councils under Section 35 of the Local Government Act. The total number of such appeals was 231. Of these 88 were allowed and 115 disallowed. The remaining 28 were withdrawn or not proceeded with. The total number of rural district councils who will have these powers delegated to them is 262, out of a possible 643.