§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Town Council of Canterbury have recently incurred heavy expenditure in a complete renovation of the main roads under their jurisdiction; that before carrying out the work the council notified the authorities of the Post Office of what was in contemplation, and requested that any Post Office work involving the laying of underground cables or otherwise interfering with the road surfaces might, be executed before the roads were finally laid down; that since the recent renovation of the roads was completed the council have now received notice from the Post Office authorities of a long list of works which the latter propose to carry out; and whether, in view of the unnecessary expenditure thus thrown on the local authority by want of foresight on the part of a Government Department, he is prepared to make a special grant-in-aid from funds at his disposal or, if none such are available, to approach the Treasury with a view to such a grant being provided?
§ Mr. GOSLINGI am informed that the disturbance is not likely to be so serious as is suggested in the right hon. Member's question. The Canterbury City engineer is in consultation with the engineer of the General Post Office with a view to arranging that the cables shall be laid, as far as possible, under the footways. The cost of re-instatement will be borne by the Post Office.