Plymouth has widened the main road from Devonport to the north, and another road which will afford a less congested route from Plymouth towards the west.
Birmingham has in hand several extensive road widenings, forming part of her town planning scheme.
Southport is constructing a section of new road to enable traffic to and from Liverpool to avoid an exceedingly narrow portion of the existing road.
Durham County Council is constructing a section of new road from Easington towards Hartlepool which will provide a much shorter route for East Coast traffic.
Conditions Attaching to Grants
Since the initiation of the 1921-22 Roads Programme, the following conditions have been attached to all grants made from the Road Fund towards the cost of road works started with a view to relieving unemployment:
(a) Unskilled labour to be employed to the fullest extent practicable.
(b) All unskilled labour for a probationary period of six months to receive a rate of wages not in excess of 75 per cent. of the local authority’s rate for unskilled labour. This requirement of a lower rate of wages than the prevailing local rate does not apply in cases where the work is carried out by contract.
The reduced rate of 75 per cent. does not apply to skilled men, employed in their trade, nor to properly qualified navvies.
In cases where the men are employed for not more than three days in the week the reduced rate applicable is increased from 75 per cent. to a maximum of 87½ per cent.