HC Deb 09 February 1938 vol 331 cc1082-3W
Mr. Ivor Guest

asked the Minister of Transport in which cases since the Road Traffic Act, 1930, became law he has authorised local authorities to raise loans to enable them to purchase toll bridges or toll roads in the arear under their control, with a view to freeing them in due course; and whether, in view of the desirability of making use of these facilities provided by this Act for this purpose and the good security provided, he will encourage more local authorities to raise loans for such purpose?

Mr. Burgin

In the following cases since 1930 local authorities have been authorised to raise loans, in conjunction with a grant from the Road Fund, for the purchase of toll bridges or roads:

£
Newcastle C.B.—High Level and Redheugh Bridges 112,500
Southampton C.B.—Bursledon Road —(land still outstanding) 10,300
Stoke-on-Trent C.B.—Weston Coyney Road 8,700
Isle of Wight C.C.—Yar Bridge 8,000
Salisbury T.C.—Nelson Road 6,800
Oakworth and Haworth U.D.C.— Providence Lane, Vale Mill Road and Ebor Lane 4,000
Northumberland C.C.—Wylam Bridge 3,600
Denbigh C.C.—Voryd Bridge 300

In a number or other cases grants have been made from the Road Fund, but the authority has not found it necessary to raise a loan. Without considerable research I cannot say whether any authority has raised a loan for these purposes with no assistance from the Road Fund.

I am always ready to consider on its merits an application from a local authority for financial assistance towards the purchase of a toll undertaking, but my

Year. Number of pigs in Great Britain on 4th June Quantity of bacon produced in Great Britain (a).
From home-produced pigs only. From all Pigs, (b)
Thousands. Thousand cwt. Thousand cwt.
1933 3,236 (c) (c)
1934 3,526 1,491 1,742
1935 4,074 2,023 2,370
1936 4,040 2,323 2,756
1937 3,883 1,944 2,452
(a) Production by curers registered under the Bacon Marketing Scheme.
(b) Includes pigs, carcases, etc., imported from Northern Ireland, the Dominions and elsewhere and cured in Great Britain.
(c) Corresponding figures not available. The Re-organisation Commission for Pigs and Pig Products estimated that the output of bacon and hams in Great Britain in 1930 (from home-produced and imported pigs, carcases, etc.) was approximately 1,350,000 cwt.