Major DAVIESasked the Minister of Transport whether in view of the delay which always occurs between the date of the grant and the completion of the acquisition of the land required for road improvement schemes, in many cases as much as two years, steps will be taken to expedite land acquisition in order that works may be commenced?
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§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONI am aware of the considerable delay that often occurs in the acquisition of land required for road improvement schemes, though a delay of as much as two years on this account can only arise in very exceptional circumstances. A large proportion of the land is acquired by agreement and the progress of negotiations and the necessary legal formalities are often unavoidably slow. The question of speeding up the procedure in cases where compulsory powers are sought is engaging the attention of the Government.