The Ministry of Transport has also got knocked about a
bit. At the General Election Mr. Chamberlain, referring to road improvement and reconstruction, declared that " we are now embarking on a five-year plan which will involve the expenditure of a sum of no less than Eroo,000,000." As Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon pointed out, this announcement was taken to mean that Doo,000,000 would be spent in five years. The total amount spent so far is k6,451,000. It was stated on behalf of the Government on Friday that a further expenditure of £10,000,000 was antici- pated this year. Almost certainly the hundred millions mark will not be reached by the end of 1940, and the Minister's rather vague references to " commitments " and " approved programmes " failed to allay the general dis- satisfaction. Apart from this subject, Dr. Burgin reviewed the work of his new department with his usual competence. He did not think it necessary to pay any tribute to his predecessor.
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