§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve the condition of road networks; and if he will make a statement. [63581]
§ Dr. ReidThe Government have accepted a target to end the decline in condition of the motorways and trunk roads in England by 31 March 2002. We are also committed to restore the cuts in maintenance of English local authority principal roads.
Our commitment is clear in decisions:
to give first priority to maintenance in the Highways Agency's future investment plans; andto increase the principal road maintenance element of the local transport capital settlement from £80 million to £113 million (or by over 40 per cent.).