Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport under what provisions county councils and other highway authorities are precluded from constructing new roads without the express authority of Parliament?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI am grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend for the opportunity of correcting any misapprehension which may have been caused by an answer to a Question which I gave to him on 23rd June last. In making that answer, I had in mind the trunk roads which are scheduled in the Trunk Roads Act and for which my Noble Friend is the responsible authority. This Act enables the Minister to supersede parts of such roads by substitution but otherwise the schedule cannot be altered without the authority of Parliament. No new trunk roads, whether they are to be reserved for motor vehicles or not, can therefore be made unless Parliament has first agreed. County councils and other local highway authorities have, of course, power to construct ordinary highways but I am advised that the authority of Parliament would be necessary before they could build roads reserved exclusively to the use of motor vehicles.