asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will seek power to enable him to take the initiative in solving the problem of unmade roads in local authority areas.

No, Sir. This is essentially a local problem which the local authorities are best placed to deal with. My right hon. Friend thinks the initiative should remain with them.

I appreciate the present position, but in some areas this is a really serious problem. May I quote the Forest of Dean, where there is an enormous number of unmade roads, normally referred to as "forest tracks", and where by the nature of the area it becomes impossible for people to obtain access to their homes? Will the hon. Gentleman inquire of the Gloucester County Council why nothing has been done in relation to the Edge Hill site as well?

I am always willing to make inquiries, but I am absolutely certain that this is basically a question of priorities, and local priorities at that, and it must be for the Gloucester County Council as highway authority to decide those priorities in any particular part of the county.

Will the Minister have a very close look at this, because I can assure him that many hundreds of my constituents are suffering under intolerable conditions, particularly in the winter, because of the failure of the Gloucester County Council to take action in this matter?