HC Deb 22 November 1977 vol 939 cc640-1W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the expenditure on road building and maintenance for the current year and for 1978–79; and how these figures compare with earlier years.

Mr. William Rodgers

The information as published in "The Government's Expenditure Plans" (Cmnd. 6721–11) is:

about 11,000 have been inspected; in 778 cases it was found that some remedial work was required. Closer inspection is revealing more cases where remedial work is required.

So far contracts for £80,000 have been let; the total cost has not yet been estimated.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many road joints are being replaced on the elevated sections of the M6 motorway in the West Midlands county; and if the replacements referred to in the reply of 11th May 1977 to the hon. Member for Birmingham. Perry Barr have been successfully used elsewhere on elevated motorways.

Mr. Horam

Whilst at present no joints are being replaced on M6 in the West Midlands, tenders are about to be invited for the repair of 76 joints at Witton, north of Gravelly Hill. It is planned to let contracts for a further 118 joints on the same section, and for 110 joints at Bescot, near Junction 9, next spring.

The replacement joints have been used, thus far successfully, on other structures.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many outstanding repairs remain to damaged parapets along the elevated sections of the M6 and M5 motorways in the West Midlands county; how long the oldest damage has awaited attention; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Horam

The concrete parapet walls on the M6 and M5 motorway in West Midlands county are damaged in nine places. A number of these have been awaiting permanent attention for some months, due to difficulty in obtaining replacement units. These pre-cast units are now available and repairs will be phased, over the next few months, with other operations to minimise traffic disturbance.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement outlining action taken by his Department to deal with the specific and persistent maintenance problems on

TOTAL ROAD CASUALTIES—GREAT BRITAIN 1975–77
Killed Seriously injured Slightly injured All severities
1975 6,366 77,122 241,462 324,950
1976 6,570 79,531 253,572 339,673
January—September:
1976 4,655 57,212 179,749 241,616
1977* 4,600 58,500 186,000 249,100
* Provisional.