§ 55. Mr. McGovernasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of money that the Government of Palestine intend spending during the next 12 months on roads and bridges, respectively, and the amounts spent each year since 1921?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreAs the reply contains a large number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. McGovernIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a large number of areas in Palestine the roads and bridges are in a deplorable state, and that when representations are made even for the smallest amount to be spent on bridges, which I myself saw are in a dangerous condition, no replies are made to the complaints that are being continually made?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI would point out that in the figures for which the hon. Member has asked the amount of money spent on roads in 1935–36 was more than double the amount spent in any particular year.
§ Mr. McGovernIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that most of the money spent on roads is necessitated for military purposes?
§ Following are the statistics:
§ Expenditure of the Palestine Government on bridges is not shown separately except in a few special cases. Figures are not available for the period prior to 1924–25. Expenditure on roads and bridges from that date to 1935–36 inclusive is as follows:
| Construction. | Maintenance. | |
| £ | £ | |
| 1924–25 | 14,646 | 32,638 |
| 1925–26 | 35,581 | 44,255 |
| 1926–27 | 48,724 | 58,194 |
| 1927 (nine months) | 62,175 | 51,041 |
| 1928 | 69,185 | 62,774 |
| 1929 | 48,042 | 62,243 |
| 1930 | 53,865 | 73,966 |
| 1931–32 (15 months) | 40,848 | 99,099 |
| 1932–33 | 36,116 | 91,894 |
| 1933–34 | 70,510 | 93,816 |
| 1934–35 | 81,852 | 122,916 |
| 1935–36 | 201,010 | 126,338 |
§ It will not be possible to state what provision is to be made for the year 1937–38 until the Estimates for that year have been approved.