§ 34. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Minister of Transport what would, be 1854 the approximate annual cost of raising a loan for the purchase of all remaining toll-bridge and toll-road rights in Great. Britain, provided that the Government maintained the said rights and revenue therefrom as their own property for five years as a contribution to the cost before freeing the respective roads and bridges to the public?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI do not see how any estimate could be formulated in the absence of an expert valuation of each undertaking, and to this I have no means of requiring the undertakings to submit.
§ Captain MACDONALDIn view of the very heavy burden of taxation borne by motorists to-day, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to have these anachronisms removed from our public highways?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI am most anxious to see them removed.
§ Captain MACDONALDWhat is the right hon. Gentleman doing about it?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAEvery application which has been submitted has been very favourably treated.
§ Captain MACDONALDWill some action be taken to see that local authorities or private owners of tolls, who refuse to treat in this matter, will have pressure brought to bear upon them?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI am not the highway authority, and I can only consider the submissions that are made to me.