HC Deb 08 February 1971 vol 811 c47W
Mr. Bob Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further plans he has for a general improvement in the infrastructure of North-East England.

Mr. Peter Walker

Existing public expenditure programmes provide for further substantial improvement of the infrastructure of the Northern Region; for example:

  1. (1) Major road improvement schemes under construction or programmed in the North East amount to £81 million; in addition 35 major schemes are being prepared.
  2. (2) 21 schemes in general improvement areas involving 5,008 houses have just been approved for the Northern Region, all but one scheme being in the North East.
  3. (3) 14,066 improvement grants were approved in the Northern Region in 1970; a rising trend is expected to continue in 1971.
  4. (4) The special programme for the replacement of substandard pre-1903 primary schools in the North East comprises 15 projects in 1972–73 to the total value of £1.16 million.