123. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what major schemes have been agreed upon by his Department with Durham County Council; and what amount is to be allocated to them for 1954 and 1955 for road improvement and road maintenance.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe major improvement schemes to be authorised will be selected individually from time to time in consultation with the Durham County Council and will not form the subject of any block allocation of money. The Road Fund provision for maintenance and minor improvements of roads for 1954–55 will be notified as soon as possible. That for 1955–56 will not be decided for about twelve months.
§ Mr. Pargiterasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the total annual expenditure on major improvement and new construction of roads for each of the years 1937–38, 1938–39 and 1945–46 to 1953–54, inclusive.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe total annual expenditure borne by central funds and local authorities on the major improvement and new construction of roads in Great Britain was as follows:
Year Total (£'000) 1937–38 16,695 1938–39 17,377 1945–46 938 1946–47 2,538 1947–48 4,678 1948–49 5,299 1949–50 6,032 1950–51 6,269 1951–52 5,981 1952–53 5,985 The figures are of net expenditure and exclude the cost of work which was covered by contributions from public utilities, frontagers, etc. The figures for 1953–54 are not yet available.
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§ Mr. Callaghanasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation his estimate of the additional expenditure on the roads in 1954–55 and 1955–56 arising from his recent statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe estimated expenditure from the Road Fund on major improvements and new construction in 1954–55 is the same as for 1953–54—i.e., £5 million. In 1955–56 it will increase by £2½ million to £7½ million. It is proposed in those two years to enter into commitments amounting to some £37 million.
§ Mr. Callaghanasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total expenditure by central Government and local authorities on the road system of Britain, including unclassified roads, for the latest available year.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydFor the year ending 31st March, 1953, the total expenditure on the road system of Great Britain incurred by my Department and local highway authorities was £85,966,000. Details of this expenditure will be shown in the Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for 1952–53 which I hope to publish shortly.