§ 71. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the delay in clearing main roads in the West Country after recent snow; and what steps he is taking to ensure more speedy and effective action in the future.
§ Mr. MarplesThe time taken to clear certain main roads was due to the severe conditions and not to any delay on the part of highway authorities, who were prompt and energetic in their efforts to keep main routes open. Recurring blizzards refilled drifts behind the snow ploughs; on some stretches of road, where snow packed up in front of the ploughs, they could make no headway and digging was necessary. Some drifts were caused by the many abandoned vehicles, which greatly impeded clearing operations. It is only thanks to the efforts of the highway authorities' staff, to the temporary labour engaged for this work, to volunteers and to the Armed Services that communications were kept open as well as they were. I should like to pay tribute to all who worked so hard in such appalling conditions. I intend to see what lessons we can learn from these events, and I have already asked 189W my divisional road engineers for reports on experience in their areas. Local highway authorities, too, are reviewing their experience.