§ Mr. WALKERasked the Minister of Transport what action it is proposed to take upon Recommendation XXXI of the Royal Commission on Transport that the Ministry of Transport should formulate a special programme in regard to the strengthening of weak bridges, providing for the work to be done at the rate of not less than 1,000 bridges a year, and that special sums from the Road Fund should be definitely set aside for the purpose?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONI have already indicated my willingness to make 1447W exceptional grants towards the reconstruction of weak bridges where the highway authorities concerned are willing to undertake the work, and I am glad to say that substantial progress is being made. During the last financial year 550 weak or inadequate highway bridges were reconstructed or widened with the aid of grants from the Road Fund, and while the information for the current year is not complete, I am satisfied that this rate of progress is being well maintained.