HC Deb 27 July 1953 vol 518 cc83-4W
67. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the trunk and Class I roads has less than a 30-foot carriageway in Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire, respectively.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

On trunk roads the figures are as follows:

per cent.
Lancashire … … 53
Cheshire … … 62
Staffordshire … … 80
and on Class I roads:
Lancashire … … 68
Cheshire … … 91
Staffordshire … … 99

69. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Minister of Transport the total mileages of classified roads in the counties of Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire; and what is his grant allocation per mile for 1953–54 to each of these counties.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The mileages of classified roads are as follows: Lancashire 2,056; Cheshire 1,279; Staffordshire 1,448. The grant allocation per mile for maintenance and minor improvements has been: Lancashire £427; Cheshire £416; Staffordshire £270.

70. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Minister of Transport the figure of tonnage of traffic on the roads of Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire, respectively, in 1938 and at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The average tonnage figures for 1938 are available only for trunk and Class I roads. They are as follows:

Trunk Roads:
Lancashire … … … 12,438
Cheshire … … … 9,529
Staffordshire … … … 9,112
Class I Roads:
Lancashire … … … 6,760
Cheshire … … … 4,265
Staffordshire … … … 4,560

These are the latest figures available, since no full traffic census has been taken since the war.

71. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Minister of Transport why his grant allocation for maintenance and minor improvement of classified roads is less per mileage to Staffordshire than to Lancashire and to Cheshire.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Grants for the maintenance of classified roads are not based on mileage alone. Staffordshire County Council asked for a grant of £421,876 and have received £390,000, which is more than they received last year. I am, however, giving careful consideration to representations which hon. Members have made to me about Staffordshire roads.

Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Minister of Transport the amount of tonnage carried in 1938 and 1952, respectively, on the classified roads of Cheshire and Staffordshire.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The average tonnage per census point carried on Class I roads in 1938 was 4,265 in Cheshire and 4,560 in Staffordshire. No 1938 figures are available for Class II or Class III roads in these counties and no census has been taken on any class of road in them in 1952.