§ 59. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Minister of Transport if he has considered the letter dated 13th June, addressed to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland by the Secretary of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, and forwarded to him; and why the main roads referred to on the north-west coast of Scotland are in such a state of disrepair.
Mr. BraithwaiteThe responsibility for maintaining these two roads rests on the Sutherland County Council. We have allotted them a fair share of the grant money available for maintenance in the current financial year and they will no doubt devote this to the most essential work.
§ Sir D. RobertsonIs my hon. Friend not aware that the Sutherland County Council are quite unable to bear the cost of this work, and, as their main coastal roads are greatly deteriorating, will he put back on them some of the unemployed men who were working on them until recently and who then were paid off?
Mr. BraithwaiteIn the case of one of the roads referred to in the letter from the Royal Scottish Automobile Club— A.894—I understand that the Sutherland County Council have made provision in the current year's programme for embarking on a certain amount of work, although not as much as they would like to do.