§ Mr. Marquandasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the increase in expenditure on roads and public lighting between 1968–69 and 1973–74 forecast in the White Paper, Public Expenditure 1968–69 to 1973–74, Command Paper No. 4234, is expected to be due to demographic factors and what proportion to other factors.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineExpenditure on roads and public lighting is determined by a variety of considerations including the present state of the roads, the traffic on them and its likely growth, and the economic benefits to be obtained from road improvements through savings in journey time and reduced accidents. It is not possible to isolate within these considerations the proportion due to demographic factors.