Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with present levels of road maintenance expenditure; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RodgersI have no reason to think that the present levels of road maintenance expenditure are such as to affect the safety or the basic structural stability of our roads. Despite the allegations that have been made recently, nobody has yet presented me with any objective evidence to show that either is threatened. As my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State said in the Adjournment debate on 29th June—[Vol. 952, c. 1684–1702]—we have mounted a series of extensive road maintenance surveys to monitor the situation and thus to ensure that this remains the case.
Expenditure on the maintenance of motorways and trunk roads in Great Britain, which comprise 5 per cent. of total mileage but carry 28 per cent. of the traffic, is currently running at over £80 million a year, and this figure will rise to nearer £90 million in 1980. Expenditure on local roads should remain at about its present level of some £470 million, but a number of counties continue to spend less than the road maintenance expenditure accepted for the purpose of calculating transport supplementary grant. In England in 1975–76 this shortfall on accepted expenditure amounted to £65 million and in 1976–77 to £50 million. This bears out my view that in current 413W circumstances the expenditure levels suggested by the Government are adequate to meet present and foreseeable needs. Nevertheless, I will continue to watch the situation with care and on the basis of the objective evidence we are seeking.