§ Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that many recent accidents are due to the faulty condition of road surfaces in provincial areas; and whether he will endeavour to get the surveyors in all counties to co-operate with the Ministry to obtain uniformity of surface for main roads?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI am not aware of any increase in accidents due to this cause. Improvements in road surfaces are constantly being effected. The attention of highway authorities has been drawn to the fact that accidents from skidding are sometimes attributed to a sudden and unexpected change in the character of adjacent surfacing materials and where roads traverse the areas of several authorities, they are urged to make every effort towards uniformity of practice. If my hon. and gallant Friend knows of cases where he thinks that improvement could be effected in this respect, I should be obliged to him if he would bring them to my notice.
§ Sir W. EDGEasked the Minister of Transport whether, in the proposed expenditure of £100,000,000 over the next five years for the improvement of British roads, he will insist upon the use of British stone wherever possible; and whether he is aware that there is still considerable unemployment in British quarrying?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIt is a condition of all grants from the Road Fund that all materials shall, so far as practicable, be of United Kingdom origin and all manufactured articles shall be of United Kingdom manufacture, subject to such exceptions as I may find to be necessary or desirable in any particular case. The five year programme of road improvements will provide considerable additional employment for workers in British quarries.