§ 28. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Minister of Transport why, although the council of an urban district with a population of under 20,000 has volunteered to make a contribution towards the cost of the improvement of a county road in its area, he has refused to make a grant in respect of this contribution; and whether he will reconsider his decision?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONMy reason for declining to consider as grant-earning expenditure contributions from urban district councils of a population under 20,000 towards the cost of the improvement of county roads in their areas involves a long explanation which is fully set out in a letter which I caused to be addressed to the County Council's Association on the 11th of this month. I am sending a copy of this letter to the hon. and gallant Member.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEI thank the right hon. Gentleman, but does he realise that in regard to a seaside town, where perhaps the census is taken in the winter, the population is very often below 20,000, whereas in the summer they have to cater for a much larger number? Will he take that fact into consideration?
§ Mr. MORRISONThat is so. I have to determine the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929, which mentions the figure of 20,000 population arrived at, I believe, by the census.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEis it not in order for these authorities to make grants to the County Council?
§ Mr. MORRISONI am advised that it is not competent for me to accept the offer of the urban district council and to make a grant in that respect. The matter is one of some complication, and the hon. and gallant Gentleman will receive from me a copy of a three-page letter on the subject which sets out the pros and cons.
§ Mr. LOUIS SMITHIs this the first evidence of the Department of the right hon. Gentleman that no further expenditure is to be incurred in this road development?
§ Mr. MORRISONNo, Sir, I do not think it relates to that. It relates to the provision of the Local Government Act, 1929.