§ 86. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Transport what cuts have been imposed on the estimates for road maintenance and improvement in Leicestershire during the current financial year; and whether he will reconsider the request for such reduction, in view of the increased repairs which are necessary owing to the adverse winter, conditions and the increase of traffic on the roads.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave on Monday, 5th May, to the hon. Members for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker) and Sutton Coldfield (Sir J. Mellor). I can hold out no hope of increasing the grants available for road maintenance.
§ Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Transport whether he has any figures indicating the amount of money which was saved on road maintenance work during the war, and whether, in view of the need for making up for lost time in this direction, he will give some early indication of the plans of his Department for embarking on an effective programme of road maintenance and improvement.
§ Mr. BarnesThe information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. With regard to the second part, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement of general policy which I made in the House on 6th May, 1946, of which I am sending him a copy. The rate of progress with the programme then indicated must depend on the financial provision which can be made.