§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current actual levels of expenditure on maintenance of the trunk road network; to what extent these accord with present public expenditure plans; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current levels of maintenance to prevent longer-term deterioration of the network. [36742]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Nicholas Winterton, dated 15 July 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking what are the current actual levels of expenditure on maintenance of the trunk road network; to what extent these accord with present public expenditure plans; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current levels of maintenance to prevent longer term deterioration of the network.The Agency is planning to spend the following sums on trunk road maintenance in the current financial year:
£ million Capital road maintenance 250.0 Capital bridge maintenance 130.0 Current maintenance (roads and bridges) 146.4 355W
These figures are wholly consistent with the Government's expenditure plans set out in Transport Report 1996 (Cm 3206—March 1996).
This level of funding will not be sufficient to avoid some deterioration of the network. Some works are having to be postponed until 1997–98. However, by working hard and innovatively, the Agency expects to be able to maintain safety and to minimise the effect on serviceability and value for money.