§ Mr. Proctorasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will supply a report upon the accident which took place at Barton Bridge, Eccles, on 19th February; and if he will cause an inquiry to be made in order to see if the accident, with its consequent loss of life, could have been avoided.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo. I was very sorry to hear of this accident, but the responsibility for this project in no way rests on my Ministry. This is a classified road scheme in which my Ministry's interest is that of making a 75 per cent. grant to approved works. The Lancashire County Council is the highway authority and I am told that it is at present making investigations in order to give the coroner what assistance it can at the inquest. I understand that H.M. Factory Inspectors are also making investigations.