§ Mr. WISEasked the Minister of Transport in how many cases and for what mileage the Road Board or local authorities, in constructing new arterial or other roads, have used their statutory powers for acquiring the land for a depth of over 100 yards on each side of the new highway; and whether there are any Treasury or other departmental instructions or rulings urging or discouraging this course?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONThe Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, authorises the Minister of Transport to acquire land to a depth of 220 yards on either side of a new road constructed by him. In the few cases where, in the past, the Minister had him- 2057W self constructed a road and therefore these powers might have been exercised, it was decided, after full consideration of the individual circumstances, not to put them into force, except in respect of small areas at a few important points. Local authorities have no similar powers, with the exception of the Middlesex County Council, who have not yet had occasion to exercise the powers obtained in their Act of 1925. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.