HC Deb 18 June 1979 vol 968 cc450-1W
Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Minister of Transport (1)what was the expenditure on roads in England in 1977-8 and 1978-9 broken down in a form similar to that in table 2 of Cmnd. 7132 "Policy for Roads: England 1978"

  1. (2)at is the source of funds from (a)central Government and (b) local authorities for road expenditure in Great Britain in 1977-78 and in 1978-79 for each of the following: trunk, principal, other roads and other roads.related expenditure

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The expenditure in £ million at outturn prices on roads in England for 1977-78 and 1978-79 in the format of Table 2 of Cmnd. 7132 is as follows; the figures 1978-79 are provi

1977–78 1978–79
Central Government Local Government Central Government Local Government
HIGHWAYS
New construction and improvement
Trunk. 276.287 — 276 —
Local 55.705 194.094 21 274
Total 331.992 194.094 297 274
Maintenance
Trunk 60.175* — 81* —‡
Local — 284.630 — 396
Total 60.175 284.630 81 396
Cleansing, gritting and snow clearing
Trunk * — * —
Local. — 58.052 — ‡
Total * 58.052 * ‡
Other† 5.889 23.583 1 ‡
TOTAL HIGHWAYS 398.057 560.359 379 670
PUBLIC LIGHTING
Installation
Trunk 0.966 — 1 —
Local 0.053 5.929 — 2
Total 1.019 5.929 1 2
Maintenance and operation
Trunk 5.941 — 6 —
Local. — 66.852 — 75
Total. 5.941 66.852 6 75
TOTAL LIGHTING. 6.959 72.781 7 77
VEHICLE PARKING
Net 0.093 1.689 — 3
Gross (0.093) (51.706) — (61)
ADMINISTRATION 9.071 144.842 10 156
Total 414.180 779.671 396 906
Notes:
— The items are nil or negligible.
* Trunk road cleansing, gritting and snow clearing are included in maintenance.
† "Other "includes depots, plant, vehicles and equipment.
‡1978-79 estimates are not identifiable and are included in local government maintenance.
Central Government expenditure is met through the Votes from the Consolidated Fund.
Expenditure shown under local government will have been met partly by rate support grant and transport supplementary grant (TSG), both of which are block grants not specific to highways expenditure; partly from rate income; and partly from borrowing and other sources; a more detailed break down is not available. Expenditure on roads by new town development corporations is included. Central government expenditure shown on local roads consists partly of residual payments of specific grants in respect of expenditure incurred before 1 April 1975 and partly of payments to local authorities of those specific grants which were retained after the introduction of TSG (on 1 April 1975). Central government administration expenditure is an estimate of the cost in respect of highways functions of the Department of Transport while the local authority administration figures include expenditure en staff working on local transport generally, only part of which relates to roads.