§ 24. Mr. Charles Smithasked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered correspondence from the hon. Member for Colchester on the subject of the resurfacing of High Street, Colchester; whether he is aware that an undertaking was given by officers of his Department that this work would be carried out by the end of 1948; and whether he will make any statement giving hope of an early improvement in the condition of the road.
§ Mr. BarnesI have considered the correspondence and made some inquiries, but I can find nothing to confirm that the alleged undertaking was given by any of my officers. In fact, this is a matter entirely within the discretion of the county council, whose responsibility it is to select the particular works to be carried out with the funds available to them. I understand that the council have provided in their current year's estimates for the resurfacing of a length of the High Street, but have not seen their way to include the part which is the subject of the correspondence.