§ Mr. MACFADYENasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the steadily increasing use of district roads by through traffic and the consequent rise in the cost of maintaining the same, a proportion of the moneys received from motor taxation sufficient to meet at least 10 per cent. of such cost can be made over to rural district councils as a contribution to the expenses incurred by them in this connection?
§ Mr. GOSLINGAs I have already explained in answer to previous questions a total allocation has been made from the Road Fund revenues for 1923–24 and 1924–25 amounting to £2,750,000, for the improvement of important roads in rural areas in Great Britain. Every effort has been made to distribute the moneys so as to render assistance where it is most required, but many other factors have1652W to be taken into account besides the actual cost of the maintenance of highways in any particular district, and I cannot agree that an allocation of the moneys available for rural roads on the basis suggested in the question would be either as equitable as the present system or as effective from the point of view of the improvement of the roads.