§ Sir JOHN SPEARasked the President of the Local Government Board how many miles of main roads were managed by county and urban councils, respectively, in 1890; what was paid by these bodies for maintenance, and what portion of the cost 1420W was contributed from the Imperial Exchequer and from the local rates, relatively; and will he give similar particulars for the year 1912?
§ Mr. BURNSI am not in a position to supply the hon. Member with any of the particulars for which he asks, that have not already been published in the Annual Local Taxation Returns for the years since 1889. There is no record of the total mileage of main roads in the year 1890, and there has not been any specific contribution from the Imperial Exchequer towards the cost of main roads since the year ended March, 1889. The following is a statement of the cost in the years 1890–91 and 1910–11, respectively, these being the earliest and latest years for which the desired figures are available:—Sums expended otherwise than out of loans (a) by county councils (including payments to highway authorities in rural districts and rural district councils), (b) by councils of boroughs (other than county boroughs), and (c) by urban sanitary authorities and district councils (for districts other than boroughs), in respect of the maintenance, repair, improvement, and enlargement of main roads:—
Year. County Councils. Councils of (other than County Boroughs). Authorities for Urban other than Boroughs. £ £ £ 1890–91 … 1,070.000 128,000 335,000 1910–11 … 2,224,000 297,000 528,000 Payments by county councils to councils of boroughs and other urban authorities arc not included in this statement.