§ Major WHELERasked the Minister of Transport the amounts of money credited to the Road Fund for the financial years 1922-23, 1923-24, and 1924-25; the amounts expended on 1st class, 2nd class, and unclassified roads each year; and the other principal items of expenditure of this fund?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe receipts credited to the Road Fund and the payments out of the fund during the financial years 1922-23 and 1923-24 are summarised in the following table. The figures for the financial year 1924-25 are approximate and subject to adjustment:—
969WIt is not possible to show the payments out of the Road Fund during these years under the headings quoted in the hon. Member's question, but it may serve his purpose if the grants made during these
— Years ended 31st March. 1923. 1924. 1925. Grants made towards works on classified roads. £ £ £ 1. Maintenance and Improvement 8,998,743 9,176,753 9,757,000 2. Loan Charges 14,958 21,182 20,000 3. Traffic Census 7,420 12,401 1,000 4. Improvement works on roads in rural areas — 773,811 1,042,000 5. Improvement works on other roads — — 296,000 6. Works expedited with a view to the relief of unemployment. — 446,393 1,107,000 9,021,121 10,430,540 12,223,000 Grants made towards works on non-classified roads. 1. Improvement works on roads in rural areas — 795,548 560,000 2. Improvement works on other roads 203,609 — 100,000 203,609 795,548 660,000 Grants made towards the construction of new roads. 1. Works expedited with a view to the relief of unemployment. 2,211,974 3,889,669 4,201,000 2. Other new road schemes 331,289 306,363 102,000 2,543,263 4,196,032 4,303,000 Grants to improvement works (mainly on classified roads). 1. Works expedited with a view to the relief of unemployment. 1,321,849 1,308,874 1,119,000 2. Other improvement schemes 1,107,538 512,947 158,000 2,429,387 1,821,821 1,277,000 Miscellaneous purposes. Surveyors' salaries 78,797 196,244 155,000 Totals 14,276,177 17,440,185 18,618,000 It should be pointed out that, apart from the Road Fund, substantial grants have been made during the past five years from the funds at the disposal of the Unemployment Grants Committee towards improvements on unclassified roads. In considering applications from local authorities for assistance towards road schemes expedited for the relief of unemployment, it has been arranged, as a convenient division of function, that the Ministry of Transport should generally deal with applications in respect
970Wyears are shown, distinguishing so far as possible between those made to classified and to unclassified roads. The figures for 1924/25 are subject to adjustment.
of schemes on Class I and Class II roads and should recommend suitable works on unclassified roads to the Unemployment Grants Committee for assistance. This assistance takes one or other of the two following forms:
- (a) In the case of schemes financed out of loans, 65 per cent. (increased to 75 per cent. since March, 1924) of the loan and redemption charges for half the period of the loan, subject to a maximum period for the grant of 15 years, or
971 - (b)In the case of schemes financed out of revenue, 60 per cent. (increased to 75 per cent. since March, 1924) of the wages bill of the unemployed men taken on for the work.
During the past three years the total cost of road schemes (almost entirely on unclassified roads) assisted by the Unemployment Grants Committee has been approximately as follows:—
£ 1922–23 … … … 4,160,000 1923–24 … … … 4,160,000 1921–25 … … … 5,780,000