§ Mr. ATKEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the long delay on the part of the Road Board in putting into operation the programme for the improvement of roads and the finding of work for the unemployed which was approved by the War Cabinet in 1918; whether he is aware that, during the first four months of the year, only one meeting of the Board has been held, attended by two members, one of whom has re-entered railway service and another who has since died; and whether, it view of the responsibility imposed upon the Treasury under the Development and Road? Improvement Fund Act, he will constitute a board which will deal actively with the road problem during the next two months during which the whole of the work that can be carried out this year must be arranged for?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am informed that there has been no delay on the part of the Road Board in putting into operation the road programme for the current financial year. Up to the present time Grants to the highway authorities have been arranged to an aggregate of £7.500,000. The execution of work rests, not with the Road Board, but with the highway authorities. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Twickenham Division on the 19th instant.