§ 40. Mr. Moyleasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will introduce legislation to enable his Department to act as a street lighting authority and to provide that street lighting installations shall rank for Treasury grants on the same terms as other road improvement schemes
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Richard Nugent)Not at present. I recognise that the law in relation to street lighting could be improved, but it would be premature to consider altering it until we know the result of the street-lighting survey at present being made.
§ Mr. MoyleCan the Joint Parliamentary Secretary tell me of any steps taken by his right hon. Friend to induce the Government to support a programme modernising his own Ministry, which would include powers of street lighting similar at least to those enjoyed by parish councils?
§ Mr. NugentAs the hon. Gentleman knows, I undertook to make a survey of street lighting on class 1 roads, but we have to ask for the co-operation of local highway authorities in order to do that. This is still in course of being done, although we are getting near the end. The authorities have not all replied 409 yet. When the survey is completed and we are able to study it, we shall be able to take a clear view of what is needed.