§ Captain Stricklandasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in spite of reminders addressed to highway authorities during the present winter to act promptly in clearing the roads of snow, certain important roads have 'been blocked by recent snowfalls, and road transport on them has been much delayed by the failure of the highway authorities to clear the snow; and whether he will direct the local officers of the Ministry of 1439W Transport to ascertain and report whether the highway authorities responsible for those roads have an efficient staff properly organised for snow clearing and adequately equipped with appliances for the purpose?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonI am aware that certain roads were blocked by recent exceptionally heavy falls of snow, and, as I said on 5th February in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies), special efforts were made within the limits of labour available to clear the roads for traffic as promptly as possible. The creation of a reserve of labour and plant on a scale which would be adequate to deal satisfactorily with abnormal weather conditions would involve the immobilisation of our resources to an extent which would be quite unjustifiable at a time when they must be devoted to the immediate needs of the war effort.