§ 29. Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Transport the total quantity of broken road stone used annually by local authorities?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONI have no information respecting the total quantity of broken road stone used annually by Local Authorities. It may be stated, however, that the total tonnage of road stone conveyed over the railways in Great Britain during the year 1930 was little short of 9,000,000 tons, to which must be added materials conveyed by other means of transport.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSHow does the right hon. Gentleman know that the foreign proportion is very small?
§ Mr. MORRISONI should require notice of that question. I am satisfied that the proportion which the local authorities are using from foreign sources is in fact very small.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSThe right hon. Gentleman informed the House the other day that it was very small, and now he says that he does not know what is the total amount.
§ Mr. MORRISONThe hon. Gentleman must distinguish between my satisfaction that the proportion is small, and my capacity to give a precise figure.
§ Sir COOPER RAWSONIs it not a fact that the figures of foreign imports are easily available to the right hon. Gentleman?
§ Mr. MORRISONNo, Sir, they are not easily available in precise form.