§ 14 and 15. Mr. BANFIELDasked the Minister of Transport (1) the amount allocated from the Road Fund for the purpose of reconditioning bridges in this country during the years 1932 and 1933;
(2) the amount allocated from the Road Fund for the purpose of building new bridges on existing bridge sites for the years 1932 and 1933?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Oliver Stanley)In 1932–33, when circumstances were exceptional, there was no special allocation for reconditioning weak bridges in railway, canal and other private ownership, but grants to the amount of £296,000 were made or promised towards expenditure incurred by highway authorities on such work and on bridging level crossings. In the 1973 current year a sum of £415,000 was allocated to these purposes and the grants already made or promised out of his allocation amount to approximately 2396,000. I expect that the remainder will be applied to particular schemes before the close of the year. There is no separate provision for the reconstruction of bridges owned by highway authorities. Grants to work of this character are made out of the general allocation, and bridge work is often included in schemes for the improvement of roads or the construction of new roads. Considerable labour would be involved in examining approved schemes in order to ascertain how much of the expenditure related specifically to [...]ridges.
§ 19. Mr. CHORLTONasked the Minister of Transport whether, with a view to accelerating the replacement of weak bridges over railways, in view of the employment involved, he will come to some special arrangement with the companies concerned?
§ Mr. STANLEYI am anxious that the work of strengthening and reconstructing weak bridges should proceed as rapidly as possible, and have taken steps to facilitate the working out of the necessary programmes between the owners of these bridges and the responsible highway authorities. I have also made it clear that I am prepared to contribute grants of 75 per cent. of the cost of such works so that all parties are aware of he maximum assistance which can be expected from the Road Fund.