§ Viscount CURZONasked the Minister of Transport whether he can issue. a statement showing the schemes for road construction and improvement now being undertaken throughout the country, stating in each case how long the works have been under construction, how far they are now advanced towards completion, and when it is expected to complete the work?
§ Mr. GOSLINGI regret that owing to the very large number of road schemes now in progress throughout the country, it is impossible to give the detailed information asked for in the question. I 1561W would refer the Noble Lord to the Annual Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for the year 1922–23, which contains a great deal of information on the subject.
§ Sir H. CAUTLEYasked the Minister of Transport whether the power of borrowing conferred by Section 13 of the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, has ever been exercised by the Ministry; if so, to what extent; and, if not, whether he will exercise it to the full statutory limit of £200,000 for the purpose of providing some of the cost of the new roads now under construction or contemplated?
§ Mr. GOSLINGIt has not, up to the present, been found necessary to exercise the borrowing powers conferred by the Act of 1909, to meet the cost of any of the new roads now under construction or contemplated.
§ Sir H. CAUTLEYasked the Minister of Transport what are the amounts of the contributions made by the Treasury in each of the last three years towards the difference between economic and uneconomic labour employed on works on roads carried out by or with the assistance of his Ministry?
§ Mr. GOSLINGContributions from the Exchequer were made in special circumstances during the years 1921–22 and 1922–23 to the programme of road works for the relief of unemployment initiated during the autumn and winter of 1920–21.
The payments were as follow:—
1921–92 £380,000 1922–23 £192,000
§ Mr. NICHOLasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the road-widening scheme undertaken by the Barrhead Town Council at Paisley Road, Barrhead, Renfrewshire, in order to provide work for the unemployed is being impeded by the refusal of the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway Company to make available a portion of the ground fronting their goods station; and, as this road improvement scheme would not only provide work, but would, undoubtedly, be a great benefit to the public, what steps can he take to settle the matter?
§ Mr. GOSLINGI am aware of the difficulty that has arisen between the Barrhead Town Council and the railway company, and am making further inquiries1562W into the present position of the negotiations. I will communicate the result of these inquiries to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.