§ 68. Sir F. Medlicottasked the Chancelor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the unfairness of the present arrangements whereby a large part of the cost of the upkeep of the roads throughout the country is borne by local ratepayers; and if he will take steps to provide, either by revival of the Road Fund or by other appropriate means, that the whole cost of the construction and maintenance of the public roads throughout the country shall be a first charge on the taxation collected by the Treasury from motorists through Excise licences.
§ Mr. H. BrookeThe present arrangements are not unfair. Public funds meet the full cost of trunk roads, three-quarters of the cost of Class I roads, 60 per cent. of the cost of Class II roads, and 50 per cent. of the cost of Class III roads. This holds good both for construction and maintenance, except that Metropolitan boroughs, county boroughs in England and Wales and large burghs in Scotland get no grant for maintenance. Only in the case of unclassified roads do local authorities have to meet the full cost.
These arrangements are designed to secure a proper balance, reflecting the use made of the roads by local and through traffic.