HC Deb 13 April 1981 vol 3 c31W
Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the M8 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh to be brought up to the full motorway standards; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

Preparatory work on the remaining schemes necessary to upgrade the A8 to motorway standard all the way from Glasgow to Edinburgh is in its early stages, and I cannot at present forecast when resources will permit work to start.

Public expenditure by spending authority and programme within the Secretary of State's responsibility
£ million at 1980 survey prices
1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82
Central Government
Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry 114 130 103 92 122 142 108
Industry, energy, trade and employment 42 128 101 109 114 129 124
Roads and transport 98 95 110 101 96 84 91
Housing 261 292 287 302 346 337 249
Other environmental services 7 8 9 11 12 14 14
Law, order and protective services 45 46 46 47 54 57 60
Education and libraries, science and arts 130 134 144 144 148 152 148
Health 1,012 1,004 1,023 1,072 1,061 1,070 1,106
Personal social services 6 7 7 7 6 8 8
Other public services (including common services) 59 56 55 58 54 55 56
Total programmes 1,774 1,899 1,886 1,942 2,013 2,048 1,963
Local Authorities
Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Industry, energy, trade and employment 4 4 4 5
Roads and transport 286 253 261 292 282 271 260
Housing 458 394 382 354 334 269 296
Other environmental services 516 438 400 423 446 402 383
Law, order and protective services 214 210 197 202 209 212 211
Education and libraries, science and arts 988 968 925 922 914 870 842
Personal social services 153 179 173 183 192 192 192
Other public services 27 28 28 28 29 30 26
Total programmes 2,644 2,472 2,369 2,411 2,413 2,254 2,218