HC Deb 25 February 1985 vol 74 cc8-9
9. Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on (a) trunk road and (b) motorway (i) building and (ii) maintenance since June 1979.

Mrs. Chalker

From June 1979 to 1 February 1985, £1,290 million has been spent on construction and improvement of trunk roads and £1,480 million on motorways. The corresponding figures for maintenance are £370 million and £530 million.

Mr. Bruinvels

I thank my hon. Friend for her reply. Does she agree that the Government have spent far more on maintenance and construction than have any previous Government? Is that not good for all motorists and lorry drivers?

Mrs. Chalker

My hon. Friend is right to say that we have been reversing the shortsighted cuts of the previous Labour Administration. Capital spending on roads is now 123 per cent. higher in cash terms and 30 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1978–79. The return on investment will be £1.70 for every pound spent during this and the next three years. There are no cuts in the programme resulting from last year's public spending review. That shows the Government's commitment to the programme, including both building and maintenance.

Mr. Higgins

While those figures are good, is my hon. Friend aware that they do not include expenditure on a Worthing bypass? Is she aware that the case for a bypass was accepted some time ago, but that the route originally suggested went through the centre of the town? When is Worthing likely to have a proper bypass?

Mrs. Chalker

My right hon. Friend is only too well aware of the very difficult position that affects his town, which is surrounded by a very pleasant rural area and has a fairly busy and dense route through the centre. He also knows that we are considering the matter most carefully and will come back to him as soon as we possibly can.

Mr. Yeo

Is my hon. Friend aware that because of the success of Felixstowe and the growth of the East Anglian economy, the A12 in Suffolk is now carrying as many heavy vehicles as the A2 in east Kent, but certainly does not receive the same level of investment?

Mrs. Chalker

With the building of the Orwell bridge and the bypasses in the area, East Anglia has not suffered from a lack of investment in recent years. There are problems as ports develop faster than might have been predicted. We are looking carefully at the entire road network in East Anglia, and the hon. Gentleman will be aware that that is being done on the basis of the new traffic figures published in December.

Sir Reginald Eyre

Is the Minister aware of the severe congestion affecting the M6 motorway where it passes through the Birmingham and west midlands conurbation? Is she further aware of the urgent need for an orbital route to relieve this overburdened stretch of motorway, and can she give encouraging news of action in that respect?

Mrs. Chalker

My hon. Friend shares with me concern about the amount of traffic on the M6 in that area of Birmingham. The road can carry a substantial amount of traffic, but it has become necessary to consult the local councils and others about the possibility of another road. I shall be meeting my right hon. and hon. Friends shortly to discuss the matter in further detail.