§ 78. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation which highway authorities have, during the current year, requested permission to spend on road improvements that proportion of the sum granted to them for maintenance purposes which they do not find it necessary to spend: and whether he will now allow greater latitude as regards money earmarked for road maintenance to go to road improvement wherever highway authorities are able to make the necessary economies on maintenance work.
§ Mr. MolsonI think that the hon. Member is mistaken if he implies that money is allocated to highway authorities for maintenance in excess of requirements. There is, however, an arrangement enabling authorities to use money originally allocated for maintenance for the purpose of limited widenings or realignments desirable for the more efficient execution of maintenance work. Many highway authorities will, no doubt, be availing themselves of this arrangement. Apart from this we have received no such requests as the hon. Member has in mind, and on my present information I do not think that any greater latitude is called for on the lines suggested.