asked the Minister of Transport in how many cases, giving dates and names of the councils, he has given decisions adverse to rural district councils under Section 35 (7) of the Local Government Act, 1929, without an inquiry or conference being held by him to ascertain the facts?

I regret that I am unable to give the information requested by my hon. Friend, without an examination of every case of appeal under Section 35 (7) of the Local Government Act, 1929, which I do not feel would in present circumstances be justified. An inquiry is held in those cases where it appears that one is necessary in order to establish the facts.

asked the Minister of Transport why he came to a decision adverse to the Blaby Rural District Council under Section 35 (7) of the Local Government Act, 1929, without holding an inquiry or conference, having regard to the fact that the Minister's predecessor allowed the appeal of the rural district council in the year 1934, after an inquiry when the facts were not then so favourable to the said council?

The decision on this case was taken without holding an inquiry or conference, because, as I have already informed my hon. Friend, I was satisfied that all the information necessary to determine the appeal was already available. Both the rural district council and the county council had submitted full statements; and I reached the conclusion that to put the authorities to the trouble and expense of a local inquiry would not be justified. After careful consideration of all the facts, I was satisfied that, in the interests of economy and efficiency in highway administration, the roads in the Blaby rural district should be brought under the direct control of the county council, in common with the roads in all the other rural districts in the county.

May I ask my right hon. and gallant Friend whether he does not think it a rather high-handed way of treating a local authority which does its work efficiently?

We have had to remember that highway administration economy is best secured by unity of control. I was suggesting that was the case and that in present circumstances we should pay particular attention to economy of administration.

Is not this practice of settling things without consulting anyone becoming rather a bad habit with the Minister?

I think this is only the second time I have done it.