LORD WALERANasked on behalf of the Roads Group, with reference to the statement made on behalf of His Majesty's Government on the 3rd of May, that during the last twenty years no less than £1,000,000,000 has been spent on road improvement; will His Majesty's Government state under what Votes and what headings this money was spent?
THE EARL OF ERNEHighway expenditure during the twenty years to 31st March, 1938, amounted to £1,065,000,000, of which £269,000,000 was found from the Road Fund and other Government contributions and the balance from local rates and contributions from frontages and public utilities undertakers.
The purposes for which the expenditure was incurred during the past eight years were the following:
£ millions. 1. Maintenance and minor improvements 263 2. Major improvements and new construction 113 3. Administrative, cleansing and miscellaneous purposes 94 (millions) £470 An analysis on the foregoing basis of expenditure incurred during the twelve years to March, 1930, is not available. The expenditure during that period amounted to £595,000,000, of which approximately £115,000,000 was incurred on works of a capital nature (item 2 above) and the balance of £480,000,000 on Revenue Account (items 1 and 3 above).
House adjourned at ten minutes past five o'clock.