HC Deb 21 May 1924 vol 173 cc2233-4W
Viscount WOLMER

asked the Minister of Health the total amount spent by local authorities in the years 1922 and 1923 on the upkeep and maintenance of rural roads, and the total contributions towards such expenditure made from Road Fund revenues or other central resources?

Mr. GOSLING

I have been asked to answer this question. I understand that the returns of highway expenditure supplied to the Ministry of Health are not yet available for any year later than 1921–22. In any case it would not be possible to distinguish between the expenditure on rural roads and on other roads. The grants made to Rural District Councils from the Road Fund have been as follow:

£
1922–23 686,356
1923–24 1,406,982
I should point out, however, that County Councils, and even many Urban District Councils, are responsible for the maintenance of many miles of roads which could properly be described as rural.