§ Mr. FREEMANasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Surrey County Council have been advised by the county surveyor that it will be necessary to incur a further expenditure on concrete rafting of the Kingston by-pass road amounting to £118,500; whether he will give the total mileage of the road, the year or years in which it was constructed, the total cost, the additional sum already spent in replacement of the concrete raft, and the total amount of State grants to date; whether the original work was carried out by contract; and whether the further work necessary will be carried out by contract or by direct labour?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONI am aware that the county council propose to expend £90,000 (not £118,500 as stated in the question) upon a new concrete surface on a section of Kingston by-pass. The total mileage (including the Merton Spur) is 9.53. The work was commenced in 1923; the whole of the by-pass was opened to traffic in 1927, but certain sections were being used prior to1450W that date. The cost of the work was approximately £426,170. The amount expended on maintenance of the highway under all heads since 1926 is £38,750. Grants from the Road Fund to date including construction and maintenance amount approximately to £213,000 net. The work was executed by contract under the supervision of the Surrey County Council, but the further work will be carried out by direct labour.