§ 51. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the slowing down of road construction and maintenance in the South-West Region; and if he will arrange for further financial grants to be made to local authorities in order to improve the roads to meet the requirements of the ever increasing traffic.
§ Mr. HayMaintenance grants to the South-West are larger this year than last, but commitments for new construction are likely to be smaller because of the prior demands of motorway construction elsewhere. We are well aware of the traffic difficulties in the South-West, and that area will get as much in the way of grants as we can justify against the country's needs as a whole.