§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what have been the effect of recent restrictions in the programme for the maintenance of the national road network between June and September of the current year on his aim to eliminate the backlog of motorway and trunk road renewal work by 1992.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe restriction on maintenance was temporary. The allocation of £20 million from the reserve this year, followed by the 40 per cent. increase in proposed future expenditure, announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 1 November, will enable progress towards the 1992 target to be resumed.