29. Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that high stretches of main road, such as that over Shap Fell, are provided with the most effective types of snow clearing and grit-spreading equipment.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Gurney Braithwaite)Many modern machines for snow clearing and gritting have been added to the equipment of local highway authorities and my Department during the last 10 years. Conditions over Shap Fell are particularly difficult, but special attention is given to this length of road. The permanent solution is the construction of the new road to which I referred in my answer to my hon. Friend on 9th March.
Mr. VaneIs my hon. Friend aware that he has not really answered the Question? I asked whether he was satisfied that the maintenance equipment on this particularly difficult road was of the most modern type? Is he further aware that the spending of a little more money on maintenance would save a great deal of capital expenditure?
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the Minister aware that this problem will be worsened by the introduction of the proposals to destroy the road transport system, because the road transport organisation supplements the existing local authority machinery for dealing with these roads?
Mr. VaneIs my hon. Friend aware that time is very important in this matter? This road ices and snows up very quickly, and if the most modern equipment were available on this stretch of road there would be a great improvement in traffic conditions in the height of winter?
Mr. BraithwaiteThe solution lies in the construction of a new road to which my hon. Friend was objecting on Monday last.