§ 32. Mr. Bidwellasked the Minister of Transport to what extent public expenditure on roads will increase in the forthcoming financial year.
§ Mr. SwinglerTotal public expenditure—which includes local authority expenditure—on roads in England in 1967–68 is expected to be about 25 per cent. higher than in 1966–67.
§ Mr. BidwellWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to bear in mind the urgent need to make better use of existing road services, especially in grappling with the problem of parking, even at the expense of assisting local authorities and the police more diligently to apply themselves to this problem?
§ Mr. SwinglerYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend is well aware of the need to solve this problem, even with the expanding 562 road improvement programme. That is why she is setting up a number of authorities and is providing more efficient traffic schemes.
§ Mr. BessellIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that even these improvements are totally inadequate to meet Britain's transport needs today? Would he consider the possibility of floating public loans for the purpose of motorway construction?
§ Mr. SwinglerNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend has already dealt with that matter in the transport debate and on other occasions. The question must be related to spending on all other projects. I assure the hon. Gentleman that we do not say that what is being done is adequate, although a substantial increase is going on.