HL Deb 02 December 1947 vol 152 c1018
LORD SANDHURST

My Lords, I beg to ask the second question standing in my name on the Older Paper.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government the number of men employed on road maintenance, as apart from new construction, in 1938, and the corresponding figure for the latest available date prior to September 30, 1947.]

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, the figures for 1938 are not available. Those at the outbreak of war and at Sep! ember, 1947, were estimated at 110,000 and 92,000 respectively.

LORD SANDHURST

I thank the noble Earl for his reply. Arising out of that, is it from the very much reduced staff for road maintenance that a further reduction is now to be made?

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

The further reduction of course would be made in existing staffs employed on the maintenance of roads.