HC Deb 16 December 1980 vol 996 cc120-1W
Mr. Alton

asked the Minister of Transport what advice he has given to Merseyside county council on snow clearance and gritting of roads; and whether he proposes the transfer of money from other road maintenance to maintain the snow clearance and gritting programme in the Merseyside area.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

None. Merseyside county council is fully aware of the need to keep all roads as safe as possible in winter and requires no special advice from the Department of Transport. It is also a matter for it to decide what priority to place on this task compared with other calls on resources.

Mr. Alton

asked the Minister of Transport how much money has been allocated for snow clearance and road gritting to Merseyside county council; what is the allowance for (a) trunk roads and (b) motorways; and what percentage these figures are of those for 1979.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Last winter Merseyside county council was allocated £47,000 and £51,000 respectively for the winter maintenance of trunk roads and motorways. This year the council asked for, and was allocated, £43,000 and £71,000 respectively. The 8 per cent. decrease in the trunk road allocation reflects a reduction in trunk road mileage, while this year's allocation for motorways is 39 per cent. higher than that for last year.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

asked the Minister of Transport what was the financial provision for trunk road maintenance in (a) Tyne and Wear county, (b) Northumberland county, (c)Durham county and (d) the Northern region for the financial years 1979–80 and 1980–81.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Financial allocations made by the Department for trunk road maintenance, including motorways, were as follows. All figures are at outturn prices.

1979–80 1980–81
£ £
(a) Tyne and Wear county 195,500 437,500
(b) Northumberland county 754,000 685,500
(c) Durham county 2,017,500 1,332,500
(d) Northern region 6,087,000 4,574,000

Mr. Robert C. Brown

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate he has made of the additional costs incurred by other parts of the public sector by any diminution in safety standards arising from the limitation of the funds provided for the salting and gritting of roads.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

In both actual and real terms the Department has allocated more funds for the winter maintenance of trunk roads and motorways this year than last. There is no question of any diminution of safety standards.