§ Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Transport the number of special trains run for each Government Department during the most recent convenient statistical period; and the number of passenger-miles and ton-miles so provided for each Department.
§ Mr. BarnesThe particulars for the week beginning 23rd March, 1947, are:
the damage done to roads in Great Britain by excessive frost, snow and ice during the recent winter; and what steps are to be taken to ensure that this additional repair work is to be undertaken without prejudice to the previous programme for repairs and improvements to highways.
§ 73. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the recent damage done to the roads of this country by floods, ice, snow and frost will necessitate increased maintenance costs during the present financial year; and whether he will give an assurance that adequate funds will be available to deal with these additional requirements and to carry out the programme of maintenance and improvement already approved.
§ Mr. BarnesIt has not yet been possible to make a complete estimate of the cost of repairing last winter's damage to the 7W roads: the figures so far available indicate that, for Wales, Scotland and sixteen English counties, it is of the order of million on trunk and classified roads. There will be no curtailment of the maintenance and improvement works which I have already approved, but it has been necessary, to inform many county councils that grants will not be available towards the full amount of their estimates for the maintenance of classified roads in 1947–48, because the anticipated grant in aid of the Road Fund is insufficient to allow of so generous a provision.