§ Major STEELasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the advisability of setting aside a definite proportion of the money in the Road Fund for roads maintained by rural district councils; and whether he will consider a method whereby such proportion can be allocated equitably to the rural district councils in proportion to their cost of maintenance?
§ Mr. GOSLINGAs I stated on the 18th February, in reply to the hon. Member for the Sudbury Division (Mr. Loverseed), a total allocation has been made from the Road Fund revenues for 1923–24 and 1924–5, amounting to £2,750,000 for the714W improvement of important roads in rural areas in Great Britain. Every effort has been made to distribute the moneys so as to render assistance where it is most required, but many other factors have to be taken into account besides the actual cost of the maintenance of highways in any particular district.