§ 97. Mr. Boothbyasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the Report of the county road Surveyor of Aberdeenshire where it is stated that under-maintenance of roads has prevailed during the past 12 years to such an extent that the cumulative effect will eventually be a heavy burden and that many unclassified roads in the county are already in a weak condition; and whether he will indicate that increased grants will be made for road maintenance and development in Aberdeenshire in the near future.
§ 99. Commander Maitlandasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the report on road work carried out in the County of Lindsey during the years 1939–49 and to the view of the county surveyor that if progress at something like the pre-war rate is not soon resumed it will be difficult to tackle arrears; and whether he will now give some indication to county surveyors with regard to the long-term plans of His Majesty's Government respecting road maintenance and development.
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§ Mr. BarnesApart from one or two Press references, my attention had not previously been drawn to these reports. I have every sympathy with county councils in the difficult position in which they are placed by the need to restrict capital investment on roads. I regret that at the moment I cannot foresee how soon it will be possible to raise the present level of road maintenance and, so far as classified roads are concerned, to increase the amount of assistance from the Road Fund, but I can assure hon. Members that I am bearing very closely in mind the importance of points such as those to which they refer.