§ Mr. Rostasked the Minister of Transport, how the outturn of the Roads, Etc., England Vote for 1979–80 compares with its cash limit.
§ Mr. FowlerThe Appropriation Account for 1979–80 for this Vote is not yet finalised, but the provisional outturn is £453–940 million. On this figure, the Vote exceeded its cash limit by £3–398 million, which is an excess of 0–75 per cent.
The overspending is attributed to a combination of the effects of the exceptionally mild autumn and winter, which led to an acceleration of roadworks on site; an increase in contractors' claims; and a higher rate of inflation than was predicted. The cash limit for the current year, 1980–81, will be reduced by the amount of the excess expenditure in 1979–80 to £548–564 million.