HC Deb 19 February 1914 vol 58 cc1141-2W
Sir JOHN SPEAR

asked what has been the annual expenditure of the county councils of England and Wales on the maintenance of main roads since the year 1905; and the amount of such expenditure which has been defrayed from the proceeds of local taxation, licences, and from the rates, respectively?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

The expenditure of county councils in England and Wales on the maintenance, repair, improvement, and enlargement of main roads (exclusive of expenditure out of loans) has risen, year by year, from £2,487,000 in 1904–5, to £3,356,000 in 1911–12. Complete figures cannot yet be given for the year 1912–13. The figures for each year are as follows:—

Expenditure on Maintenance. Repair, Improvement and Enlargement of Main Roads. Loan Charges. Total.
£ £ £
1904–5 2,478,481 *8,766 2,487,247
1905–6 2,529,106 *8,536 2,537,642
1906–7 2,535,399 *10,394 2,545,793
1907–8 2,614,025 10,367 2,624,392
1903–9 2,739,591 16,146 2,755,737
1909–10 2,835,822 16,966 2,852,788
1910–11 3,046,337 22,223 3,068,560
1910–12 3,323,458 33,081 3,356,539
* Loan charges for main roads and other highways, but mostly for main roads.

No portion of the proceeds of the local taxation licences, or of the other Exchequer Grants (apart from the Road Board Grants) is specifically allocated to main road expenditure; but the published local taxation returns for the last few years give estimates of the amounts of that expenditure calculated to have fallen on Grants and rates respectively; these estimates being based on the assumption that the benefit of unallocated Exchequer Grants is spread evenly over all the branches of expenditure concerned. In regard to 1911–12 it was accordingly calculated that of the above-mentioned sum of £3,356,000, £925,000 fell on Grants.