asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state, in respect of each county council: (1) the provision made in the estimates for 1946-47 for road maintenance and restoration; (2) the grants which have been made available from the road fund for 1946-47; (3) the expenditure, in 1938-39, on the maintenance of roads, and (4) the maintenance grants made from the road fund in 1938-39.

The information is in the form of a tabular statement, which will be circulated with the Official Report.

Any conclusions to be drawn from the tabular statement should take into account increased costs. Since 1939 wages have increased from 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. according to the county and the prices of materials have increased considerably. The price of tar has increased by about 100 per cent. and bitumen by about 200 per cent.

Following is the Statement:

In the answer which the Parliamentary Secretary has given, will he indicate the counties where wages have been increased by 50 per cent?

That is another question.

The Parliamentary Secretary said that that is one of the things which should be taken into consideration. I am asking him to indicate the counties where the wages have been increased by 50 per cent.

The Deputy will have to ask another question. He then can read the answers together.