§ 39. Colonel Stoddart-Scottasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that there were double the number of road accidents in 1955 compared with the average for the previous five years on the Otley-Wetherby Road between Pool and Harewood Bridge; and why the dangerous road surface was not repaired until there had been these accidents and two deaths.
§ Mr. MolsonI am aware of the accidents which have occurred. The slippery surface which developed at the end of July, 1955, was promptly dealt with by the highway authority in August. The increase in the accident rate was not confined to the slippery section nor to the short period during which it remained slippery. In particular, there is no evidence that either of the two fatal accidents was due to any condition of the road surface.