§ Mr. LOUIS SMITHasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that during the first nine months of this year over 172,000 tons of broken stone have been imported, chiefly from Belgium, he will represent to all those making roads the desirability of obtaining this material, which is available, from borne quarries, and not from foreign ones?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONIt must not be assumed that the whole of the imported roadstone is used for works over which my Department can exercise any control, and in considering the figure quoted of 172,000 tons, it should be recalled that the total tonnage of roadstone conveyed over the railways in Great Britain during the year 1929 was little short of 9,000,000 tons, to which must be added materials conveyed by other means of transport. Constant pressure is exerted by my Department in favour of the use of British materials, as is shown by the circular letter which I addressed to all highway authorities on 20th February, 1930, and of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.