asked the Minister of Transport how grants made to highway authorities in aid of classified road expenditure for 1949–50 for maintenance purposes will compare with those made in 1947–48, including the cost of snow clearance.

The estimate of the Road Fund for 1949–50 provides for grants amounting to £13,500,000 to highway authorities for maintenance and minor improvement of classified roads. Grants issued for similar purposes in 1947–48 amounted to £14,544,000. These figures include provision for snow clearance, the cost of which was exceptionally heavy in 1947–48.