HC Deb 04 June 1984 vol 61 cc11-2
9. Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much money is being spent during the current financial year on the maintenance and improvement of (a) trunk roads and (b) other roads in Wales; and how much of each of these figures arises from contributions made by the European Economic Community.

Mr. John Stradling Thomas

Provision has been made for £115.455 million to be spent on improvements and £8.940 million on maintenance of trunk roads during 1984–85. A provision of £57 million has been made for improvements to other roads and £78 million for their maintenance. As indicated in the 1984–85 Supply Estimates, published in March 1984, payments of European regional development fund grant in respect of improvement works undertaken by local authorities are expected to be of the order of £15 million.

Mr. Wigley

Does the Minister accept that, given the poor state of roads in Wales, especially compared with continental Europe, the need to develop fast, modern roads in Wales, the minuscule contribution from the EEC and the fact that the EEC is giving substantial development grants to areas such as Schleswig-Holstein, which are 25 per cent. better than the average level of income for the EEC, it is high time that Wales received a better bargain from the EEC, especially for infrastructure?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

I can hold out no great promises on that matter. The House will be aware that a review of the European development fund is being conducted, and a considerable degree of agreement was reached at the Foreign Affairs Council on 14 May. I hope that the remaining points of detail will be resolved in the near future. I do not hold out any great hope of an improvement along the lines that the hon. Gentleman would like, but, as the House knows, Wales is getting considerable help.

Mr. Hooson

When my hon. Friend meets the county councils, will he take special notice of the provisions for strengthening rural bridges, because the growing average size of lorries creates some problems for delivery in rural areas?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

I shall certainly take account of my hon. Friend's point.

Mrs. Clwyd

Does the Minister agree that, if the Government were to change their rules on additionality, many more roads in Wales would benefit from EEC funds?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

I realise, with great pleasure, that this is my first exchange with the hon. Lady. She is understandably well aware that there are established arrangements for the treatment of the European grant in respect of schemes undertaken by Exchequer-funded bodies. The logic of the hon. Lady's proposal is that schemes which would otherwise merit funding as a matter of priority should be supported by the Commission. As the hon. Lady knows, probably better than any other hon. Member, that is not the way in which the fund is intended to operate.