§ 60. Captain Stricklandasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in connection with the precautions to be taken for keeping roads open for traffic in times of heavy snowfall or severe frost in the approaching winter, he has recently received reports from his local officers concerned stating whether or not adequate provision for the purpose has been made by all highway authorities within their respective local areas; and whether any of such reports indicate that the highway authorities concerned have not yet provided themselves with an adequate supply of snow-ploughs or other equipment which past experience has shown to be necessary for keeping the roads open?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Colonel Llewellin)I do not consider it necessary that every highway authority should possess snow-ploughs or similar snow-clearing equipment. At the present time the competing claims for war equipment would in any event make universal provision impossible. We are, however, satisfied that such equipment is available in areas where it is most likely to be needed, and 100 highway authorities who were not fully provided have taken advantage of an offer recently made by the Ministry of a grant towards the cost, and have ordered equipment.