§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Transport how many of the trunk 140W road schemes listed as having possible start dates in 1978 in the English roads White Paper, Cmnd. 7132, have not yet started; what are the factors causing delay; and what are the financial consequences of delay.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeOne scheme has not yet started but tenders are due at the end of November. Progress has been delayed by our agent authority's staffing problems. Inflation has added about £0.3 million to the estimated cost of the scheme.
§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Transport which trunk road schemes listed as having possible start dates in 1979 or 1980 in the English roads White Paper, Cmnd. 7132, have started and which schemes are likely to start before 31 March 1980, together with the probable expenditure for each scheme during the financial year.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe following schemes have started:
Scheme Estimated Expenditure in 1979–80 A6 Silsoe bypass £0.5m A19 Billingham diversion (Earthworks) £0.5m A45 Ipswich bypass (Orwell Bridge) £l/£2m A47 Swaffham bypass £1m A66 Appleby bypass £3m A590 Meathop-Sampool bridge £1m A629 Skipton bypasses £3m M25 Chertsey-Wisley (3 bridges and New Haw viaduct £2m M25 A13-A12, Stage 2 £1m The following schemes are out to tender:
- A34 Kingsworthy-Bullington
- A590 Ulverston diversion stage 3
- M25 A13–12 stage 3
- M63 Stockport E/W bypass stages 4 and 5
The timing of other schemes which could be ready to start by 31 March 1980 is being reviewed in the light of the resources likely to be available in 1980–81 and later years.
§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Transport what is the English trunk road construction budget for 1979–80; and how much will be spent on each of the following: schemes already under construction, preliminary expenditure on schemes due to start in the financial year and expenditure on schemes starting in the financial year.
141W
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAfter taking account of the reduction announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 June, the budget is £297 million; £267.7 million of the total is for schemes costing over £1 million. Some £146 million is expected to be spent on such schemes already under construction at the beginning of the year, £2 million on preliminary expenditure on schemes due to start this year and £35 million on schemes starting in the year. Total expenditure in the year will of course also include such items as schemes completed during the year and land acquisition for future schemes.