HC Deb 23 February 1955 vol 537 cc167-9W
96. Mr. T. W. Jones

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how much, under the Government's new road programme, he expects to spend on major projects in Wales during 1956–57, 1957–58 and 1958–59, respectively.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have as yet nothing to add to my statement of 2nd February.

102. Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, of the £64 million to be spent on new by-pass and major roads in the next five years and the £339 million in the next 20 years' programme, how much will be spent in Wales; and the details of such schemes.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have nothing to add to my statement of 2nd February except to say that no figures such as are instanced in this Question have been put forward by Her Majesty's Government.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how much of the expenditure on the expanded road programme will be met by Exchequer borrowing and how much by provision out of his Department's estimates; and to what extent the ratio will vary from year to year.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

This expenditure will be met from my Department's estimates, apart from the share borne by local authorities. As the provision of the necessary finance for these estimates is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I would refer my noble Friend to the statement made on this subject by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 7th December last, during the debate on the Address.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking with local authorities to ensure that the expanded road programme he has announced is not frustrated by any unwillingness to add to rate-borne expenditure on the part of these authorities; and whether, and under what powers, he can authorise local authorities to borrow for their proportionate expenditure on the new programme.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I do not think that I need anticipate such unwillingness. The extent of the pressure which local highway authorities have brought to bear on my predecessors and myself suggests that they will, in general, be anxious to play their full part in the expanded road programme.

Powers authorising local authorities in England and Wales to borrow for expenditure on highway works are vested in my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government under Section 195 of the Local Government Act, 1933. My Department, however, acts as sponsor of such applications. The corresponding powers in Scotland are vested in me under Section 259 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947, as amended by Section 4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1951.