§ 113. Dr. Dickson Mabonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the unemployment situation in Scotland, he will consider speeding up and expanding the present roads programme.
§ Mr. MaclayI have already authorised the carrying out of additional road maintenance work with a total value of nearly£300,000 during the current financial year, and I propose to authorise shortly a number of small major improvements, with about the same total value, which can be started quickly in areas where unemployment is high.
§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now state the amount of authorisations and expenditure on the Scottish roads programme planned for each of the years 1959–60, 1960–61 and 1961–62; and what amount in each of those years will be spent in the Highland counties.
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§ Mr. MaclayI propose to authorise in 1958–62 schemes which will involve Exchequer expenditure of£40 million. My proposals for 1959–60, 1960–61 and 1961–62 will be included in the Estimates for these years when they are published. The Government have already undertaken to provide three-quarter million pounds annually for the authorisation of schemes under the Crofter Counties programme; the roads programme each year will also include other schemes on trunk and classified roads in the Highland counties.