§ Mr. Forresterasked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the 813W Public Expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 7746, allows for increased expenditure on motorway maintenance, yet according to his parliamentary answer, Official Report, 16 November, c. 851, expenditure on motorway and trunk road maintenance will decline from £94 million to £93 million, whether maintenance spending on other non-motorway roads is to be reduced; and, if so, what effect this will have on safety and riding quality on non-motorway roads.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Government's expenditure plans 1980–81, Cmnd. 7446, announced a reduction in central Government expenditure on the motorway and trunk road programme from the level previously planned—that is, £440 million down to £405 million—with a switch within this programme to permit increased expenditure on motorway maintenance—that is, £88 million to £93 million. The figure of £94 million for 1979–80 is the latest estimated of the outturn figure for the current year. There is no question of any reductions in maintenance being made to affect the safety of any trunk roads.
§ Mr. Forresterasked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that 2½ per cent. of all accidents are attributed to deficiencies in the road environment and in a further 25½ per cent. road deficiencies were a contributory factor, how many: (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) total accidents have occurred in each of the last five years where deficient roads have been: (i) solely to blame and (ii) a contributory factor; and what steps he is taking to minimise accidents arising from deficient roads in the future.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe findings of the research exercise to which the hon. Member refers showed that 2½ per cent. of accidents were due to road conditions. However, that project was complete in itself and has not been repeated.
The Department and local highway authorities will continue to secure improvements in the road environment wherever defects capable of physical remedy are identified.