§ 6. Mr. Jannerasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what arrangements exist at present under which the Meteorological Office provides highway authorities with the necessary warnings about snow and other conditions which may necessitate urgent action to put the highways into a usable condition by the use of snow ploughs or gritting; and what steps are being taken to improve these arrangements.
Mr. WardAbout 250 highway authorities take advantage of the scheme whereby the Meteorological Office will, for an annual fee of £1, give warning by telephone of the likelihood of snow. The Meteorological Office is always ready to extend this service to other highway authorities, or to make special arrangements to give them warning of other dangerous road conditions.
§ Mr. JannerIs the Minister satisfied that these arrangements are sufficient, and will he take such steps as he thinks advisable to ensure that the other highway authorities make use of the services available to them?
Mr. WardPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will bear in mind that the responsibility of the Meteorological Office of my Department is confined to making available the information which is required and that its use is up to local authorities themselves to decide.