§ Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the effects of the Chancellor's autumn statement on public expenditure on the 408W construction and maintenance of national and local authority roads in Scotland for 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90, compared with the figures in the Public Expenditure White Paper for January 1986.
§ Mr. AncramThe autumn statement has no effect on public expenditure on the construction and maintenance of national and local authority roads in Scotland in 1986–87. It simply reports forecasts of spending on those activities this year, which are broadly in line with the provision stated in "Public Expenditure to 1988–89: A Commentary on the Scotland Programme", which provides a detailed breakdown of the provision for the roads and transport programme as stated in volume II of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1986–87 to 1988–89" (Cmnd 9702-II).
In relation to later years, the autumn statement indicated that the Scotland programme would be increased by £540 million and £670 million in 1987–88 and 1988–89 compared with the figures in Cmnd 9702. I am considering the provision for the various elements, of my programme within these revised totals and the total for 1989–90, which was announced for the first time in the autumn statement. I shall announce my detailed decisions in due course and full details will be published subsequently in the 1987 edition of "A Commentary on the Scotland Programme".
As regards relevant current expenditure by local authorities in 1987–88, the provision for roads and road lighting within the total I announced in July is £188.3 million, £8.5 million (4.7 per cent.) above the provision for 1986–87. No separate figure for planned provision on this element of local authority current expenditure was stated in "Public Expenditure to 1988–89: A Commentary on the Scotland programme".