§ Mr. DICKSONasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Lanark County Council has passed a resolution expressing dissatisfaction at the delay of the Government in approving of schemes submitted for the relief of unemployment; when local authorities were first asked to submit schemes and plans; What was the value of such schemes submitted by the Lanark County Council to the Ministry of Transport by the end of December, 1929, and by the end of January, February, March, and 1883W April, 1930, respectively; and what is the total amount of the schemes that have been approved?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONI am not aware of the resolution referred to. On 9th July, 1929, local authorities were invited by circular letter to submit programmes of major works of improvement and new construction on classified roads and bridges which they would be prepared to put in hand at an early date and carry out during the next five years. The measure of assistance which would be forthcoming from the Road Fund to approved schemes was stated in the circular. On 6th September the Lanarkshire County Council submitted a programme of works on both classified and unclassified roads, intimating that they were not prepared to accept the terms offered, and that one of the three district committees of the county would only be prepared to proceed on the understanding that the Road Fund would pay the whole cost of the works. It was not until 6th February that the five years' programme—as finally proposed by the county council—was received in my Department. Certain details required in connection with the programme were only received on 2nd and 28th April. The programme comprises works estimated to cost £371,740 on Class I roads, and £98,190 on Class II roads, and the county council state that during the current year they will be prepared to put in hand work estimated to cost approximately £350,000. The negotiations have been still further prolonged by a request on the part of the county council that certain of these and other additional works should be regarded as eligible for the special measure of assistance offered under the trunk road reconstruction programme. These latter works have now been approved for a grant of 80 per cent. towards a total cost of £408,000. I regret that I am not in a position at the moment to furnish exact figures of the value of the schemes submitted during the various months referred to in the question, but if my hon. Friend particularly desires them, I will have them obtained and sent to him direct.