§ Sir H. Butcherasked the Minister of Transport by how much he has agreed to increase local highway authorities allocations of grant for the current year to enable them to undertake extra work on classified roads to repair the damage caused by frost last winter; how much extra expenditure he proposes to incur on trunk roads this year for the same purpose; how the proposed increases compare with what was requested by the highway authorities; and what is the reason for the difference between the amounts demanded and the amounts allocated.
§ Mr. MarplesTo enable local highway authorities to undertake extra work on classified roads to repair the damage caused by frost last winter I have agreed to increase their allocations of grant for the current year by £2.9 million. I have also authorised the expenditure of an extra £2.25 million for the same purpose on trunk roads. It is intended to present a Supplementary Estimate.
Applications from the local highway authorities for extra grants totalled £3.3 million. But after detailed examination I concluded that £2.9 million would meet the real need.