HC Deb 13 May 1985 vol 79 cc9-10
9. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated expenditure on the construction and maintenance of the public road system in the United Kingdom in 1985–86.

Mrs. Chalker

About £3,100 million, Sir.

Mr. Hughes

Will the Minister compare that with the estimated £12 billion collected in motor taxation? Would it not be a good idea now to wipe out the £480 million debt on our esturial crossings as a means of improving our industrial efficiency at a stroke?

Mrs. Chalker

The actual debt on esturial crossings is £526 million. I well understand the concern of those who use the roads, but we must ensure—as we have always ensured, and as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State sought to make clear in answer to an earlier question—that the resources of the things that we build pay off the debts.

As we announced in February 1984, we are spending £33 million on the crossing with which which the hon. Gentleman is most concerned — the Severn bridge —because we believe that it is vital that the road links into south Wales are kept open and maintained. At the same time, we are now in the second stage of the feasibility study on the possibility of a further crossing into and out of south Wales.

In no way has the £33 million expenditure announced more than a year ago been increased. Whatever the hon. Gentleman may say, we have always been committed to putting the Severn bridge back into good order.

Mr. Hayward

How does the figure announced for 1985–86 compare with the figure for 1984–85?

Mrs. Chalker

It is an increase of £36 million in the debt.

Mr. Yeo

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Al2 is increasingly heavily used, partly due to the expansion of Felixstowe dock and partly due to the general prosperity of Norfolk and East Anglia? Can she hold out any hope of further expenditure on improvements to this heavily used road and especially on the construction of a grade separated junction at Capel St. Mary?

Mrs. Chalker

I am well aware of my hon. Friend's concern about the Capel St. Mary junction. As he knows, that matter is under review. Much money is being spent on the Al2, especially around Ipswich, where work on the western bypass is proceeding quickly. What is necessary to be spent in future will be spent. This year's provision for new construction and improvements is £33 million up on last year's construction figures, which were within 0.5 per cent. of the budget allowed.