§ 6. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount spent from October, 1964 until the latest convenient date on roads; and what was the comparable figure for a similar period up to October, 1964.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. William Ross)Figures from October, 1964, are not available, but total expenditure on roads in the four local authority financial years 1961–62 to 1964–65 was £131 million, and for the four years 1965–66 to 1968–69 it is estimated at £209 million.
§ Mr. RankinI thank my right hon. Friend for those figures. Is he aware that not sufficient is being spent on the Glasgow and Edinburgh motorway, only 10 miles of which exist on the most dangerous road in Scotland, and will he say when he expects to complete this motorway?
§ Mr. RossThis is only one of the roads to which we have been devoting additional expenditure. I hope to see considerable improvement in the work being done during this current year, and towards the end of the following year it is hoped it will be nearing completion.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellWill the Secretary of State also give the figures for the total taxation on road users in Scotland for the same periods, since this is highly relevant to the Question?
§ Mr. RossI think it is highly relevant that we are now seeing a tremendous drive forward in the infrastructure of Scotland—schools, technical colleges and roads. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that if he had done anything like this we would have had fewer problems.