Lieutenant-Colonel PINKHAMasked the President of the Local Government Board (1) whether he has considered the Report of the Road Board upon the proposed Western Avenue recommended by the London Arterial Road Conference, dated July, 1918; and, if so, whether the Board have decided to adopt any of the recommendations made in paragraph 23 of that Report; (2) whether he is prepared to propose an Amendment to the Housing Bill now before Parliament to enable the Board to form joint committees of local authorities 1880W to undertake financial and executive responsibility for the construction of the Western Avenue and roads of a similar character which would pass through the area of several local authorities?
§ Major ASTORIt will be convenient to reply to this and the succeeding question together. I have seen the Report of the Road Board. Action in connection with it has been deferred in view of the proposed establishment of the Ministry of Ways and Communications which will take over a large part of jurisdiction of the Local Government Board in relation to highways, which will clearly require to be consulted. I think it will be better to deal with Amendments to the Housing Bill in the discussions on the Bill rather than by question and answer.