§ 115. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a 10 per cent. reduction on the maintenance of roads in Bristol recently made by him will reduce the standard of public safety on the roads as well as affect the efficiency of the vehicles using them; and if he will now withdraw his requirement to cut this expenditure.
§ Mr. MaclayI assume that the hon. Member is referring to Circular No. 672 issued to local highway authorities on the 26th October last asking them to limit their expenditure on unclassified roads in the remainder of the current financial year to 90 per cent. of the unspent balance of the provision made in their budget for 1951–52 and asking them to budget for an expenditure on unclassified roads in 1952–53 not exceeding 90 per cent. of their estimate for the current year. This was a request, not a formal requirement, but in view of the need for strict limitation of capital expenditure I hope that local highway authorities will comply with it, subject to any further guidance that may be given them when the Government have been able to review the position in more detail.