§ 70. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Transport what steps have been taken by his divisional road engineers to prepare for the eventuality of another hard winter.
§ Mr. MarplesI have just announced a £6 million programme, to be phased over a number of years, for the improvement of winter maintenance arrangements on the most important 4,000 miles of trunk roads. The programme, which takes account of advice from my divisional road engineers following discussions they had had with local highway authorities, provides for the supply to agent authorities of new salting, gritting and snow clearingvehicles, and for assistance to them in providing depot facilities.
I have also issued a circular to all local authorities on ways and means of improving the techniques and organisation of snow and ice clearance. I have no doubt that they will ensure that the standard of service will be as high as possible.