§ Mr. Dunnasked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made by his Department on the main roads of the country for which he is responsible; whether he will state the total mileage of roads over which he has control, the mileage for which schemes have been approved; and the mileage of completed work, giving the cost in both cases?
§ Captain WallaceOn the 1st April, 1937, the Minister of Transport became highway authority for 4,459 miles of trunk road. At that date schemes for the reconstruction of certain sections had been prepared by the local authorities, and these were adopted by the Minister and in some cases enlarged. The expenditure required to carry to completion these schemes, as enlarged, is estimated at about £4,750,000. The smaller schemes have already been completed and some of the larger ones are nearing completion. I regret that I am not able to give the mileage in each case.
Between the 1st April, 1937, and the 31st May, 1939, 204 Orders under Section 1 (3) of the Trunk Roads Act have been made for 298 diversions or bypasses comprising 280 miles of new route to supersede 282 miles of existing road. Schemes estimated to cost approximately £13,000,000 for the improvement or construction of about 250 miles of road have been approved. The schemes are in 2258W various stages of preparation and progress. No schemes of magnitude have yet been completed.
§ Mr. Dunnasked the Minister of Transport whether he can give the approximate cost of land purchases for the improvements to the main highways of the country for which he is responsible?
§ Captain WallaceSince 1st April, 1937, when the Minister of Transport became the highway authority for trunk roads, approximately £660,000 has been spent on land acquisition in connection with their improvement or construction.