§ Mr. PARKINSON(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Transport whether in view of the adjournment of the House to-morrow he can make any statement as to his ability to meet applications from highway authorities for grants towards further schemes dealing with weak bridges during the remainder of the current financial year?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI am happy to be able to inform the House that with the concurrence of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, an additional provision of £500,000 will be made available out of the Road Fund for grants to schemes for the reconstruction of weak bridges and for other urgent improvements with which highway authorities are ready to proceed immediately. I am issuing at once grants at the rate of 75 per cent. towards 25 bridge schemes estimated to cost in all about £400,000. These are additional to about 80 schemes for reconstructing weak bridges or replacing level crossings, at a total cost of nearly £670,000, which I have already approved during the year. The consideration of further applications is also far advanced. It will thus be seen that highway authorities are being assisted to put in hand at once a, substantial volume of useful work.
§ Mr. THORNEDo I understand from the reply that the Chancellor of the Exchequer pinched a certain amount of money out of the Road Fund?