§ 30. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the amounts spent on roads in 1963, 1964 and 1965, respectively, as percentages of the revenue received from road users by way of fuel tax and licence duty; and what are the estimated figures for 1966.
§ Mr. DiamondTaking both central Government and local authority spending on roads, the figures are 41.7 per cent. in 1963–64, 41.1 per cent. in 1964–65, and 41.9 per cent. in 1965–66. I would remind my hon. Friend that expenditure on roads cannot be linked with revenue derived from road users.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate that insufficient money is being spent on the roads while road congestion is costing the country more than £300 million a year? If he cannot find the money by the ordinary methods, would he consult his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer about putting a tax on capital wealth so that we can get the money?
§ Mr. DiamondI am aware of my hon. Friend's anxiety and I hope that he will not mind my responding by asking hire whether he is aware that road building is planned to increase faster than any other major sector of Government expenditure.