§ Mr. STEPHENasked the Minister of Transport the total amount of expenditure that has been sanctioned in connection with the various road schemes in Scotland in the current year up to the latest available date; and whether there have been any steps taken in recent months by his Department to encourage local authorities to initiate new schemes?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe expenditure on the maintenance and reconstruction of classified roads and on the maintenance of unclassified scheduled roads in Scotland, which has been approved for grant during the current financial year up to 31st January last, amounts to approximately £3,570,000. The total expenditure approved for grant in the case of major improvement works on classified and unclassified roads cannot be ascertained at the present time without considerable labour. These figures, however, are always included in the Annual Report presented to Parliament upon the Administration of the Road Fund. Local authorities are so well aware of the terms upon which assistance is obtainable from my Department towards road 567W schemes that any special steps on my part such as suggested by the hon. Member are unnecessary.