Mr. W. A. JENKINSasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the present system of the Ministry in making the county councils the intermediary between the Ministry and the rural district councils in respect of roads other than main roads results in unnecessary duplication of work all round; and, seeing that non-county highway authorities with their intimate local knowledge are more capable of performing the task of highway administration in their own respective districts than are the county councils, will he take steps to adjust this grievance?
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§ Mr. GOSLINGAs I stated on the 26th February, in answer to a question from the hon. and gallant Member for the Lewes Division (Lieut.-Colonel Campion), direct communication is always maintained between my Department and the district councils. I am not prepared, however, to depart from the present procedure by which use is made of the county councils in the administration of the grants towards the maintenance and improvement of all Class I and Class II roads in their areas. This procedure has been found by experience to work satisfactorily and has the advantage of enabling the county councils to keep under general observation the principal lines of through communication by road in their areas.