§ 55. Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Transport when his legal advisers will be able to submit an opinion with regard to the necessity, or otherwise, of legislation before work can be commenced on a toll-free bridge at Selby?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI will let my hon. and gallant Friend know.
§ Colonel RopnerDoes the right hon. Gentleman recollect that, when responsibility rested on the county council, he pressed them very strongly to commence work on a new bridge, and does he not think it is really time that some final conclusion was reached on the matter?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaMy hon. and gallant Friend is asking me whether or not legislation will be necessary. I have told him that, as soon as I have legal opinion upon that somewhat difficult question, I will let him know.
§ Colonel RopnerIs the hon. Gentle man aware that I am asking the question in order to draw attention to the fact that his Department should really know by now whether legislation is necessary or not?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaMy hon. and gallant Friend is most unreasonable. I offered a very substantial grant to the county council to do the work. I have become the highway authority only in the last three weeks. Surely he cannot expect it to be done already.
§ Colonel RopnerIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the question has been before his Department for four or five years?