§ Sir H. HOPEasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the expenditure incurred by county councils in Scotland for bank interest, owing to the greater part of this year's expenditure falling to be paid in the two first quarters of the year, and that no part of the grant on classified roads is received until after the close of the financial year, he will accede to their appeal that a substantial payment to account be made during each quarter of the year?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI assume that the hon. Member has in mind the grants towards maintenance expenditure on classified roads. These grants are not paid after the close of the financial year but at the end of each quarter on the basis of the expenditure incurred during that quarter. As I stated on 13th July, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir R. Hamilton), I have carefully considered the request that the payment should be made at the beginning of each quarter instead of in arrear, but I regret that I do not see my way to alter the present procedure.