§ 16. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision he has reached with regard to augmenting the present road programmes, in order to reduce the increasing number of accidents causing injury and death on the roads.
§ Mr. MaclayThe current road programme runs to 31st March, 1962, and I have no announcement to make as to its revision.
§ Mr. ManuelWill the Secretary of State stop dodging these great Scottish issues when trying to reply to Questions? Is he not aware of the growing concern among Scottish local authorities about the increasing deterioration of our roads? Will not he make some inquiry into what is happening in Northern Ireland and Eire, where, obviously, national road plans are in operation? It would do the right hon. Gentleman and his Department a great deal of good if he found out what was happening there and did something like it in Scotland.
§ Mr. MaclayI was not aware of any question in that supplementary. In reply to it, however, I will say that if the hon. Member studies what has happened concerning expenditure on the improvement of roads in Scotland in recent years, he will realise that very useful progress is being made.
§ Mr. SteeleWill the Secretary of State look at the second part of the Question and indicate whether any conclusions have been reached concerning the suggestion made in the Scottish Grand Committee that a full-time official should be appointed in his Department to look after road safety?
§ Mr. MaclayThat hardly arises out of the Question and I should not like to give a categorical answer at this moment.