HC Deb 02 November 1970 vol 805 cc652-4
35. Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on future major road works programmes in Wales.

Mr. Peter Thomas

The Government attach the highest importance to pressing forward with an expanded road programme for Wales.

Mr. Morgan

Does the Secretary of State appreciate that hon. Members on this side of the House are not as yet inspired by his candour in relation to future road programmes in Wales? Will he give a categoric assurance that the preparation pool will be kept at a level equal to that at which it stood in June 1970 and that the increase year by year will not be less than the average increase achieved by the previous Government?

Mr. Peter Thomas

There will be no cut in the trunk road and motorway programme in Wales as a result of the measures announced by the Chancellor This programme is planned to increase by about 10 per cent. a year between 1971–72 and 1974–75. There will be a cut in the local authority principal road programme of something over £1 million during the period 1971–72 to 1974–75. This programme is still planned to increase by about 10 per cent. a year.

Mr. George Thomas

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that principal roads play a very important part in providing the proper infrastructure for new industry and that any cuts in this direction would be damaging to the economy of Wales?

Mr. Peter Thomas

The initiative on principal roads lies with the local authority. No authority wishing to increase its principal road programme should hesitate to submit worth-while proposals to me. I do not anticipate that any such proposals will be deferred.

37. Mr. Alec Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much public money has been spent in each of the last six years on all roads in Wales.

Mr. Peter Thomas

Expenditure by central and local government for each of the years 1964–65 to 1969–70 was £25.5 million, £26.2 million, £29.5 million. £29.8 million, £30.8 million, and £32.5 million. The last figure is provisional. The total is expected to rise to £37.7 million this year, to £39.9 million in 1971–72 and to £51.5 million in 1974–75.

Mr. Jones

I thank the right hon. and learned Gentleman for giving the figures. Would he take into account that many of us who represent areas where road improvements, such as trunk road or motorway improvements, are not likely to be of immediate help are desperately concerned that there should be no reduction in any minor road programme in the ensuing year as a result of any Government announcement or intention?

Mr. Peter Thomas

I do not anticipate that there will be any reduction in the minor road programme of which the hon. Gentleman is thinking. The reduction is in a programme, but there will be a considerable increase in road expenditure and road works in Wales over the years.

Mr. George Thomas

Is the Secretary of State aware that the figures he has just given amount to exactly double the expenditure of the Conservative Government in the previous six years when they looked after Welsh roads? [Interruption.] We found the money. Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take note that we on this side of the House welcome the fact that for 1970 to 1975 he has adopted our programme?

Mr. Peter Thomas

The right hon. Gentleman appears to have forgotten that I said that when his party took office in 1964 there were 22.9 miles of motorway under construction and that when it left office there were 22.9 miles of motorway in use. The Labour Party not only accepted our programme but took over what we initially constructed. There were no miles of motorway under construction when we took office in June, and there will now be an accelerated road programme.