HL Deb 11 December 1997 vol 584 c51WA
Lord Selkirk of Douglas

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to increase or decrease Scotland's road capital budget in real terms for the next financial year in comparison to this financial year, and what percentage change this represents.

Lord Sewel

The proposed motorways and trunk roads capital budget for Scotland for 1998-99 is £110.15 million, a 22 per cent. reduction in real terms from 1997-98. This reflects decisions about the scale of activity on major capital projects announced earlier this year, in conjunction with the implementation of our manifesto commitment to a strategic review of the trunk roads programme. A substantial part of the reduction has been redirected to other transport priorities, notably freight facilities grants to encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail and the external financing limits of Caledonian MacBrayne and Highlands and Islands Airports Limited. Capital expenditure on local roads in 1998-99 is a matter for local authorities to determine within the overall resources available to them.