M. of T. Estimates.
Page 60
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A N interesting discussion took place in the House of Commons on the estimates for the Ministry of Transporr, which were presented byMr. Parkinson, the Parliamentary Secretary. In the course a his review, Mr. Parkinson stated that the gross provision made for expenditure under the Road Traffic Act was in the neighbourhood of £140,000. The fees charged by Traffic Commissioners for the issuing and backing of licences were estimated to amount to £140,000-£150,000 for the year.
The staffs of the Commissioners num.. bered 390, which did not represent a net increase in the number of public officials, as the staffs previously employed by the local authorities on duties now performed by the Traffic Commissioners were no longer required. whilst schemes representing another £9,500,000 had been approved in prin ciple. 'Upwards of 9,000 men were engaged upon these works.
In respect of the five-years programme a large number of schemes had already been approved. The total cost of the proposals which had been accepted was £27,500,000. At the end of May works to the value of about £14,000,000 were in progress or had been authorized, whilst in respect of a further £12,500,000 approval in principle had been given. Upwards of 13,000 men were engaged upon this programme.
On road and bridge schemes receiving grants from the Road Fund, but outside the scope of these two programmes, about 42,000 men were directly employed, but including men indirectly employed the total was about 84,000 people.