§ 55. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of reduced traffic through motor fuel rationing, he will request highway authorities to accelerate road maintenance, so that its effect on traffic will be reduced after the end of fuel rationing; whether he will make available such increased grants as are necessary for this purpose; and whether he will advance the date of notification to highway authorities of grants to be authorised to enable highway authorities to make best use of the time available.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am sure that highway authorities may be relied on to take whatever advantage they can of the reduction in traffic to carry out road maintenance more conveniently, though their ability to do so may be limited by a number of factors. All the funds voted by Parliament for maintenance and minor improvement grants this financial year have already been allocated to highway authorities. I will notify highway authorities of their allocations for next year at the earliest practicable date.