§ Major WHELERasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been 2046W drawn to the very serious state of the road surface of the new main London-Folkestone road between Sidcup and Wrotham; the amount of money granted from the Road Board Fund for the making of this road; and what steps he proposes to take to get this section of the road repaired and to discover the causes of the bad work that has been done in making this road?
§ Mr. GOSLINGAs I explained in my answer to the Noble Lord the Member for Ramsey on the 19th February, a temporary surface was applied to the new carriageway, pending the consolidation of the foundations. Its present condition is not in any way due to bad work, but to the inevitable process of settlement. Contracts have been placed for the permanent surfacing and the work has commenced. The cost of the improvement from Sidcup to Wrotham to date has been about £550,000. It is not possible to quote the exact share of the Road Fund, as this depends on certain financial adjustments with local authorities who are contributing to the cost.