HC Deb 23 June 1952 vol 502 cc1819-20
14. Mr. Janner

asked the Minister of Transport what approximate sums of money are now locked up in road and bridge improvement schemes, the completion of which has been postponed; and what steps are to be taken to complete these schemes in the near future.

Mr. Braithwaite

About £6 million have been spent—mostly before the war—on grant-aided and trunk road schemes which have been postponed. It would cost more than £20 million to complete these schemes and capital expenditure of this order cannot be put in hand in present economic circumstances.

Mr. Janner

Is not the Minister aware that many of these improvements have been outstanding for a considerable time? Can he say why, when he has funds in hand for this type of purpose, he does not use them to fulfil the requirements of various districts where bridges and roads require repairing?

Mr. Braithwaite

This, again, is a topic on which I was discursive on Friday last.

Mr. Janner

Not sufficiently discursive: that is the trouble.