§ 14. Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Minister of Transport how much was spent from all sources on new constructions, improvement and maintenance of the roads in 1950–51; and what is the estimate for the current financial year.
§ Mr. BarnesA firm figure for 1950–51 will not be available until returns of actual expenditure have been received from local highway authorities, but I estimate that total expenditure was about £56 million compared with an estimate of about £60 million for the current year.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether a sum of £18 million is necessary over and above the expenditure last year to put the roads into a normal state of maintenance and repair? If so, can he say how much of that £18 million he has had Treasury permission to spend this year?
§ Mr. BarnesI should not like to commit myself to the figure. In this case, the hon. Member will see that there is increased provision, and this is primarily to improve the maintenance standard, which is now just over 60 per cent. We hope to raise it to approximately 70 per cent.
§ 33. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the poor state of the unclassified roads in the Highlands, he will ensure that in any special arrangements for road construction to be made, whether for strategic or other purposes, no attempt will be made to curtail expenditure proposed by local authorities for these roads.
§ Mr. BarnesExpenditure on the highway system of the country as a whole has to be limited in view of other demands of vital importance upon the national resources. Of the amount available for roads, it is necessary that a due proportion should be spent on those of the greatest importance to the community. It is for this reason that the Government 1877 have decided that total expenditure on unclassified roads should be restricted, and I cannot ignore this policy in dealing with the Highlands.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonis the right hon. Gentleman aware that the expenditure on unclassified roads in the Highlands is approximately one-half per mile per annum compared with the rest of the country? Will he bear that in mind?
§ Mr. BarnesThat may be so, but, taking Scotland as a whole, I do not think that the roads there have been neglected either under this form of expenditure or under grant-aided expenditure.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that deterioration of such roads in the Highlands is proceeding faster than reconstruction?
§ Mr. BarnesI fully agree that all our roads could do with a higher standard of maintenance, but I do not agree that Scottish roads suffer by comparison.
§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanWhile recognising that special action is needed in regard to these roads owing to their particularly bad condition, may I ask my right hon. Friend if he does not agree that much progress could have been made by local authorities in those areas had they not supported Lord Woolton's appeal that there should be no public expenditure for this purpose?
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeSince the right hon. Gentleman does not dispute that only about half is spent on Scottish roads compared with roads in England, is there no room for readjustment of expenditure in the interest of Scotland without asking for any more money overall?
§ Mr. BarnesI do not think there is any justification for a special concession for Scotland. As a matter of fact, last year the Government agreed to an expenditure of £750,000 for a special additional grant for roads in Scotland.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.