§ Sir K. FRASERasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that occupiers of agricultural land in the parish of Hallaton, Leicestershire, are assessed for the upkeep of the district roads, but have themselves to maintain public roads already included in the assessment and for which they are fully rated; whether such privately maintained public roads will benefit from the grant to be made 1007W for the maintenance of unclassified rural roads; and, if not, will he require such roads to be maintained by the district council, and so preclude ratepayers having to make a double payment for their upkeep?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI have been asked to reply I will have inquiry made into the conditions of road maintenance at Hallaton so as to ascertain whether any useful action can be taken by my Department. Grants from the Road Fund can, however, only be made to highway authorities or in conjunction with them, and the Minister of Transport has no power to require district councils to add to the length of roads which they maintain.