HC Deb 22 March 1951 vol 485 cc342-3W
Mr. Emrys Roberts

asked the Minister of Transport the total amount paid for highway maintenance and for new roads in Wales in the financial year 1949–50 and in the current financial year.

Mr. Barnes

The expenditure approved for the maintenance and minor improvement of trunk roads, and the total grants from the Road Fund in respect of similar work on classified roads in Wales are as follows:

Year Trunk Roads Expenditure Classified Roads in Counties*
Total Estimated Expenditure Grant Proportion
£ £ £
1949/50 776,000 2,348,503 1,424,566
1950/51 670,000 2,139,001 1,285,704
* Expenditure on the maintenance and minor improvement of classified roads in County Boroughs and of unclassified roads generally is not eligible for grant.

The estimated total cost of schemes of major improvement and new construction approved for commencement on trunk and classified roads in each of the two years in question is as follows:

Year Trunk Roads Expenditure Classified Roads
Estimated Expenditure Grant
£ £ £
1949/50 95,395 552,973 365,756
1950/51 110,128 284,327 196,879

I have no figures of expenditure on such work on unclassified roads in the years in question, apart from the estimated cost of schemes approved for grant under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, as given below:

Year Estimated Cost Grant
£ £
1949/50 4,936 2,715
1950/51 24,121 14,764