§ Sir H. Roperasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the improvement of roads which lead to farms and over which there is a public right of way can now be grant aided under the Farm Improvement Scheme.
§ Mr. John HareIn cases where a highway authority is already responsible for maintenance of the road for wheeled traffic no grant under the Scheme can be given for its general improvement. Where, however, the highway authority has no such liability Farm Improvement Scheme grant can be given on the cost of the improvement of the road falling on the agricultural interests concerned, provided that the conditions of the Scheme are satisfied and that the highway authority is prepared to adopt the road after improvement. If the highway authority is not prepared to adopt the road, grant cannot be given for its improvement because the future maintenance of the road cannot be assured. I hope, therefore, that highway authorities will be ready, in suitable cases, to improve and take over responsibility for unadopted roads of benefit to agriculture.