§ Sir W. Jenkinsasked the Minister of Transport what is the annual revenue in England and Wales from Road Fund licences of all cars; what is the amount received from fines from all courts for motor offences; and will he give figures for England, Wales and the county of Glamorgan separately?
§ Mr. BurginThe net revenue from duties on mechanically-propelled vehicles collected during the year ended 3oth November, 1937, was:
£ England 27,927,200 Wales and Monmouth 1,241,572 of which collections in Glamorganshire (including the county boroughs therein) amounted to 538,654 Fines received during the same period in England and Wales amounted to £391,439. I hope the hon. Member will not press for separate figures for England, Wales and Glamorgan, the extraction of which would entail a disproportionate amount of labour.
§ Sir W. Jenkinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider making a substantial grant to local authorities towards health services, particularly water and sewerage schemes, where such authorities are unable to develop and maintain these services, from Road Fund revenues; and will he consider special additional grants to distressed areas?
§ Sir J. SimonThe purposes for which Road Fund revenues may be used are laid down by statute and do not include such services as those mentioned. Local authorities already receive very substantial assistance from the Exchequer towards the cost of their health services by means of the block grant and in the Special Areas the Commissioners have offered additional assistance. The Government are asking Parliament to continue the operation of the Special Areas Acts but cannot see their way to introduce the further legislation which would be required to enable special additional grants to be made.