§ Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Post Office Engineering Department have notified the Isle of Thanet Rural District Council of their intention of opening roads at Minster for the purpose of laying cable; that these roads have only just been re-surfaced at considerable expense; and that such repair work would have been postponed had the council received earlier intimation of the intention of the Department; and whether, with a view to avoiding unnecessary expenditure of public money in the future, he will instruct the Department to give not less than six months' notice to any local authority in whose area it is intended to open roads?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONAs long notice as possible is given of works entailing the opening of roads, and in this instance the work is not due to be commenced for at least six months' and probably longer. The notification to which my hon. Friend refers was a preliminary inquiry as to the cost of reinstatement in the event of the roads having to be opened.