§ Sir E. ILIFFEasked the Minister of Transport what local authorities have agreed to contribute to the cost of the Glasgow-Edinburgh road scheme; and what is the proposed contribution of each authority to the total sum of £500,000 they are expected to contribute out of a total of 22,000,000?
§ Mr. GOSLINGThe estimated cost of the length of the Glasgow-Edinburgh road, lying within the counties of Lanark, Linlithgow and Midlothian, is £1,900,000. Towards this sum the Glasgow Corporation have agreed to contribute £275,000, the Edinburgh Corporation £100,000 and the Lanarkshire County Council £100,000. In addition, certain works estimated to cost £215,000 are to be carried out within the boundaries of the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and towards these works the corporations will contribute 50 per cent. of the actual expenditure incurred within their respective boundaries.
§ Sir E. ILIFFEasked the Minister of Transport whether he will again approach the Treasury with the suggestion that a considerable percentage of the cost, estimated at £2,000,000, of the Glasgow-Edinburgh road, which has been undertaken mainly for the relief of unemployment in preference to other and more urgent works of road improvement, shall be defrayed by the Exchequer?
§ Mr. GOSLINGI do not agree with the suggestion contained in the question that the construction of the Glasgow-Edinburgh road has received preference over other and more urgent works of road improvement, nor do I see any reason to apply to the Treasury for a special grant from the Exchequer.