§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will seek to take steps to safeguard employment in the road industry, in view of the loss of 44,000 jobs since 1973, of which 10,000 have been lost due to underspending of the roads budget.
§ Mr. William RodgersEmployment statistics do not identify road construction separately and the estimates quoted by the hon. Member have no official basis.
MOTOR CYCLIST CASUALTIES 1977–78—GREAT BRITAIN Number Killed Seriously injured Slightly injured All severities 1977 1,182 20,322 50,185 71,689 January-August 1978* 730 12,950 30,500 44,200 1977 765 12,907 31,925 45,597 Percentage change -5 — -4 -3 * Estimated from incomplete information, subject to revision. Motor cycle traffic in the first three quarters of 1978 rose by about 1 per cent. or 2 per cent. above 1977 levels, much less quickly than over the past three years.
Beyond this I have at present nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 24 January 1979.—[Vol. 961, c. 189.]