§ 37. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Transport what is the total of claims by local authorities for additional expenditure on roads, owing to the severe weather this winter; and what payments he has approved.
§ Mr. HayWe have not yet heard from all the local authorities concerned about their additional expenditure on classified roads. But in the year ending 31st March, 1963, expenditure of about £1 million over and above the original Estimate provision was met from the Exchequer for snow clearance from trunk roads and motorways.
§ Mr. DigbyCan my hon. Friend give some indication of the number of claims which he has turned down and the number which he intends to allow?
§ Mr. HayNo, Sir. My hon. Friend should not be too pessimistic. We are now awaiting the information. We hope to get it all by the middle of May on classified roads. When we get that information we can decide.
§ Mr. MackieHas any research been undertaken to find out why this damage happens on some roads and not on others?
§ Mr. HayWe know why the damage happens. What we do not know is why the atmospheric conditions which caused the damage were as they were.