§ 23. Mr. Colin ShepherdTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of local authority expenditure on road maintenance.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIn 1986–87 we increased provision for local road maintenance by 15 per cent. and in 1987–88 by 13 per cent., but local authorities budgeted to spend £148 million less than planned in 1987–88. The spending74W plans for 1988–89, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer last Tuesday, includes £1,264 million for local highway maintenance, the same as for 1987–88. This will enable local authorities to increase their spending on roads maintenance by 13 per cent.
§ 33. Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the trend in expenditure on the capital maintenance of national roads since 1978–79.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyExpenditure has increased from £46 million in 1978–79 to £220 million in 1986–87, an increase of nearly two and a half time in real terms. As well as keeping pace with current deterioration, we are catching up on the backlog of renewal work arising from earlier years.