§ Major GLYNasked the Minister of Transport whether, in the opinion of his advisers, water-bound rolled road repair is sufficient to support modern traffic conditions; whether in rural areas where the road rates are already high it is possible for modern methods of tarmac, 1872W grouting, etc., to be employed on account of the cost per mile: and, if so, what, in the opinion of the Ministry, is the most economic policy that a rural district council placed in such a position should adopt?
§ Colonel ASHLEYWithin certain limits of traffic intensity highways can be, and are being, economically maintained under waterbound macadam. In many rural areas where those limits are exceeded, other methods, involving a greater initial outlay, are being substituted, with financial assistance from the Road Fund. As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, sums amounting to £5,000,000 have been set aside since 1923 for grants towards the improvement of important roads in rural areas. Thanks to these contributions, which have now been for the greater part allocated, it has been possible for a large number of rural district councils to undertake the improvement of their road surfaces