Mr. G. Wilsonasked the Minister of Transport what is the year-by-year ex-
£ million — New construction and major improvements Maintenance and Minor improvements Exchequer Local Authority Total Exchequer Local Authority Total 1945/46 … 0.6 0.3 0.9 8.3 20.8 29.1 1946/47 … 1.3 l.2 2.5 18.7 22.9 41.6 1947/48 … 2.8 1.9 4.7 21.0 27.7 48.7 1948/49 … 2.7 2.6 5.3 17.5 27.2 44.7 1949/50 … 3.4 2.6 6.0 20.0 30.0 50.0 1950/51 … 3.7 2.6 6.3 18.9 30.2 49.1 1951/52 … 3.3 2.9 6.2 23.7 33.3 57.0 1952/53 … 3.7 2.6 6.3 25.8 34.7 60.5 1953/54 … 3.7 4.1 7.8 26.5 35.8 62.3 1954/55 … 4.3 4.7 9.0 29.5 38.6 68.1 1955/56 … 7.4 5.8 13.2 31.5 42.2 73.7 1956/57 … 15.0 7.0 22.0 31.9 44.2 76.1 1957/58 … 21.8 7.6 29.4 34.2 45.9 80.1 1958/59 … 47.1 10.3 57.4 32.8 47.5 80.3 1959/60 … 59.6 12.5 72.1 34.8 50.5 85.3 1960/61 … 57.9 17.2 75.1 36.6 53.4 90.0 1961/62 … 71.5 19.6 91.1 41.3 56.1 97.4 The figures in the table are based on returns made by local authorities shortly after the end of each financial year. The returns indicate the value of road works done in the year. Because, in some cases, Exchequer payments to local authorities are made in advance of the work to which they are appropriate, the figures given above for Exchequer expenditure are different from the figures given annually in the Appropriation Account for payments from the Exchequer.
This series of figures is being brought onto a new basis, and I intend to produce a fresh series, slightly modified, next year.