§ Sir Michael SpicerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the underspend was for the capital budget on roads in the past 12 months. [34017]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 7 February 2002]: In 2000–01, capital spending by the Highways Agency on the strategic road network was underspent by £14 million against a budget of £882 million which represented an underspend of 1.6 per cent. For 2001–02, the Highways Agency are forecasting to be on budget for their current capital allocation of £1069 million.
Capital funding for local roads is allocated to local authorities via the local transport plan capital settlement. Monitoring procedures do not separate out the road elements of this spend. In 2000–01 total LTP capital spending was underspent by £9 million against a final budget of £816 million, which represented an underspend of around 1.1 per cent.
For 2001–02, over £1.36 billion of transport capital spending was allocated to local authorities. We do not expect a substantial budget underspend.