§ Mr. TOWNENDasked the Minister of Transport if he can inform the House of the total amount contributed by the local authorities in Lancashire and Cheshire to the Road Fund for the years 1923, 1924 and 1925; what is the total sum returned to the same authorities for expenditure purposes during that period; and what proportion of the latter item was earmarked for the creation of new roads?
§ Colonel ASHLEYAs I have stated on previous occasions, the Road Fund is a national fund, and I deprecate any comparisons between the amounts collected in motor taxation in an area and the amounts of the grants made from the Road Fund to highway authorities in the same area. With this reservation I can give the figures asked for by the hon. Member as regards the administrative counties of Cheshire and Lancashire:
able expenditure of time and labour, and I hope the hon. Member will not press for them.