§ Mr. G. Macdonaldasked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the number of road and bridge schemes in Lancashire in which it has been decided to limit the advances made, or to be made, from the Road Fund; the estimated financial saving; and the number of men that would have been employed on such schemes?
§ Captain WallaceSo far it has been decided to limit advances from the Road Fund in the case of 184 road and bridge schemes in Lancashire. The estimated cost of these schemes is nearly £2½millions; the probable saving will be about £1½ millions; though no precise figure can be given until the exact stages at which many of the schemes will be closed down has been settled.
In addition, 18 schemes on trunk roads in Lancashire have been suspended. The total estimated cost of these was £356,000 and the estimated saving about £300,000.
The number of men who would have been employed on the suspended works would depend on the rate at which the schemes were carried out. Assuming, however, that they would have been completed in from three to four years, it is 440W estimated that the work to be deferred would have given continuous employment directly and indirectly to about 1,800 men.