§ 100. Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the new report prepared by the surveyor of 118W the West Riding County Council with regard to the condition of the roads in that area, of which he has been sent a copy, indicates that a severe winter would result in the collapse of considerable lengths of roads carrying industrial traffic and that they are wholly unfit to meet the strain which would be involved by the outbreak of any war emergency; and whether he will take steps to made adequate sums available for their proper maintenance forthwith.
§ Mr. BarnesI am aware of the contents of this carefully prepared report and I have every sympathy with the county council, who in common with most other highway authorities are experiencing difficulty in maintaining their roads adequately. Such difficulty is due to the present economic situation and I cannot promise immediate relief, but every endeavour is made to distribute the central funds available for road maintenance as fairly as possible among the different areas, having regard to all relevant factors, including those to which reports such as these call attention.