§ 50. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Minister of Transport what is the total sum spent on the construction and maintenance of roads in Great Britain since the War; and whether any estimate has been made as to the probable annual expenditure in the immediate future?
§ Mr. PYBUSAccording to the returns furnished to the Ministry of Health and the Scottish Department of Health the expenditure of local authorities in Great Britain on the maintenance, improvement, cleansing and construction of highways, bridges and ferries during the 10 financial years 1919–20–1928–29 amounted to £510 millions. In addition to this amount £6,275,000 was expended during those years on road works carried out directly by my Department. I am informed that the returns for 1929–30 and 1930–31 are not yet available. I am unable to give any estimate as to the probable annual expenditure on the construction and maintenance of roads in the immediate future.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not desirable that the Ministry of Transport should get out estimates of this kind; and does the Minister intend to make grants in the future of the same lavish amount as those which have been made in the past?