HC Deb 16 November 1955 vol 546 cc399-400
53. Mr. Grimond

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how much he expects will be expended on his roads programme and on the railway modernisation programme, respectively, in the current year.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Capital expenditure on the railways, of which only a small proportion relates to the modernisation plan, is estimated at approximately £70 million in the current calendar year.

Expenditure on all forms of road construction and maintenance during the current financial year will be of the order of £41 million from central Government funds, and of the order of £40 million by local authorities.

Mr. Grimond

Can the Minister assure us that neither of the programmes is being slowed up, and that the railway programme, equally, is going forward, not only in amount but also in time?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Certainly, Sir.