26. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total public capital investment in the electricity industry and on roads, respectively, since 1945, to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. ErrollFrom 1948 to 1957 inclusive, public investment in the electricity industry and on roads totalled £1,819 million and £182 million, respectively. I regret that comparable figures are not available for the years 1945–47.
Mr. Gresham CookeIn view of the tremendous slice of the national public expenditure taken by the nationalised electricity industry—some ten times that spent on roads—would my hon. Friend see that a fair balance is kept between these two important public investments?
§ Mr. ErrollThe investment on new roads has been restricted in the past in favour of other more urgent investment. I am sure my hon. Friend knows full well the high level of investment taking place now and for future years in our roads programme.