§ THE EARL OF MANSFIELD asked His Majesty's Government whether they will state the total amount by which local authorities in Scotland and England, respectively, have been asked to reduce their estimated expenditure upon road repairs and maintenance in the current year; and how much this cut amounts to, upon a percentage basis of the original proposed expenditure, for Trunk, Class I, Class II, Class III, and unclassified roads respectively?
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD INMAN)Road maintenance estimates for this financial year have not yet been received from the county councils in Scotland, nor from six of the county councils in England; the remaining county councils in England and Wales have been informed that the anticipated grant-in-aid of the Road Fund will not suffice for grants to be made available towards the full amount of their estimates. The difference between these councils' estimated expenditure on the maintenance of classified roads arid that towards which grants will be available is shown in the appended table. No grants are made towards the maintenance of unclassified roads, or of classified roads in county boroughs, the Metropolitan boroughs, or large burghs; the expenditure on these roads is within the discretion of the highway authorities. Trunk road expenditure is borne entirely on the Road Fund, and the highway authorities are involved only as agents of the Minister of Transport.
§ Following is the table referred to: