§ 19. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Transport for what periods during the past three years portions of the road between Aldgate and Blackwall Tunnel have not been up for repair.
§ Mr. HayWe do not contribute to the cost of these works and have no records which give this information. The highway authorities tell me that no repairs were undertaken in Poplar during this period. In Stepney repairs were in progress for 21½ months, but except for two months the area under excavation was normally restricted to one quarter of the carriageway width.
§ Mr. PavittWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that on the last occasion when the road was up, the method employed was that of having one man and a wheelbarrow and two men on their hands and knees with a trowel scraping it out? Is he sure that this is the quickest possible way to deal with it? Will he give consideration to having a twenty-four hour service where there is a bottleneck of this kind which impedes a very large amount of traffic coming into London?
§ Mr. HayI can only suggest that the hon. Gentleman should put all these points to the Stepney Borough Council which is entirely responsible in this matter. It is not the responsibility of my right hon. Friend.