THE FIVE-YEAR ROAD PLAN
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—It may be a little early to write the obituary notice of the Five-Year Plan and to suggest that it is already dead, but it is in such a sorry state that the end cannot be postponed for long. Its history to date makes sad reading, and the only thing that can be said in its favour is that the idea behind it was a good one.
It is not likely that any interested reader has forgotten that in January, 1935, now nearly three years ago, the Government's Five-Year-Plan for an expenditure of £roo,000,000 for road improvement was announced. It was considered to be of such value that Mr. Neville Chamberlain made it the subject of an election promise at the 1935 General Election.
This much heralded infant has been puny from birth. According to the Minister of Transport's figures, given on November 3rd, 1937, in answer to a question made by Captain Strickland, the total payments from the Road Fund only amounted to £9,250,000. The Road Fund grants average between 6o per cent. and 70 per cent. of the total costs of the roads, so only about £15,000,000 has been spent out of the £roo,000,000 in three years. To keep within the five years some £40,000,000 a year must be spent compared with the expenditure to date of just over £5,000,000.
Has not everyone the right to be concerned at the failure of the Government to carry out this urgently needed Plan ?-
Previous page
