§ 64. Mr. LEACHasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the rural district council of Holsworthy, Devon, in refusing the proposal of the county council to grant roadmen a week's holiday per annum with pay; and whether he will take steps to induce this and all other rural district councils to fall in with the general practice?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, to the second part that rural district councils are no longer highway authorities, and to the third part that questions of the wages and conditions of employment of their own employés are matters for the determination of the appropriate authorities.
§ Mr. LEACHCar the Minister say whether the county council itself can override any such condition made by the rural district council?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI imagine that would be so. The rural councils are no longer highway authorities, and therefore presumably the county council would be the proper authority.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not the case that the local people have the matter entirely in their own hands at election times, if they have as much commonsense as the people of Peckham?