§ 43. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why Kincardine County Council have been asked to reduce their long-term programme of maintenance and minor improvements on classified roads; and whether he will now make available money for major improvements such as at Upper North Water Bridge.
§ Mr. RossFor the 10-year period 1965–75 the average annual amount of grant for maintenance and minor improvements within which the county council has been asked to plan is 23 per cent. higher than its allocation for the year 1964–65. It is lower than desired because this work, in Kincardine as elsewhere, must be limited to what we can afford.
The council has been advised to go ahead with preliminary work on the preparation of the Upper North Water Bridge diversion, but I cannot say when construction will be authorised.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the county council is seriously concerned about the cut in expenditure on roads? Does he also recognise that this particular bridge where a development is required is a notorious accident area and that an early start of work there would be very much in the interests of road safety?
§ Mr. RossI do not consider an increase from £65,000 in the year 1964-65 to an average of £80,000 each year over the next 10 years a cut.