§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Transport how many of the rural district councils received grants for road maintenance, showing England, Scotland, and Wales, separately: how many did not receive grants; and how many applied for grants and did not receive them?
§ Colonel ASHLEYAs my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, it is only roads included in Class I and Class II which are the subject of grants from the load Fund in respect of main tenance expenditure—as distinguished from expenditure on larger improvements, such as widenings or reconstruction. During the financial year 1924-25, 317 out of 579 rural district councils in England and 38 out of 70 in Wales submitted estimates and received grants in connection with maintenance expenditure on Class I and Class II roads. The remaining rural district councils either have no Class I or Class II roads in their areas or did not provide for expenditure on such roads during that particular financial year. Local highway authorities in Scotland consist of county councils, district committees (which are sub-divisions of the county authority) and burgh councils. There are no authorities corresponding to the rural district councils of England and Wales. Apart from grants towards maintenance, special grants have been made from the Road Fund, to a total of £3,250,000, during the past two years, towards the improvement of important roads in rural areas in England and Wales.