§ 29. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage of present investment in the roads programme as compared with that in electricity, coal and railways, respectively.
§ Mr. PowellAs the Answer contains a number of figures, I will with permission publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Captain PilkingtonIn view of the fact that the percentage is, I have no doubt, extremely small, does not my hon. 581 Friend think that there should be a review in order to increase the very necessary expenditure on the roads programme?
§ Mr. PowellI think that, when he studies them, my hon. and gallant Friend will find that the figures do cast an interesting light upon the proportions.
§ Following is the information:
| The figures for 1956 are as follows:— | ||
| £ million | Per cent. | |
| Total gross fixed investment | 3,139 | 100 |
| Road transport— | ||
| Roads and public lighting | 29 | 0.9 |
| Road vehicles— | ||
| public passenger vehicles | 19 | 0.6 |
| goods vehicles | 144 | 4.6 |
| cars* | 122 | 3.9 |
| Total vehicles | 285 | 9.1 |
| Railways— | ||
| Rolling stock | 65 | 2.1 |
| Other | 27 | 0.8 |
| Total railways† | 92 | 2.9 |
| Electricity† | 247 | 7.9 |
| Coal mining† | 84 | 2.7 |
| * Business expenditure only. | ||
| † Includes small amounts for road vehicles. |