§ Mr. Holtasked the Minister of Transport if he will give the expenditure, on the basis of the current road programme, which he estimates will be incurred in each of the five years 1962–63 to 1966–67 by central and local government on new construction for each of the following 76W categories, namely, motorways, trunk roads, and classified roads, and on maintenance on all roads for each year in the same period.
§ Mr. MarplesThe following is the answer:
New construction and major improvement
As I announced on 2nd August last, over the five years 1962–63 to 1966–67 central government expenditure is estimated at £540 million.
For 1962–63 the details are:
1962–63 £ million Motorways … … 46 Trunk Roads … … 20 Classified Roads … … 24.5 90.5 It is not my policy to publish detailed estimates further ahead than those given in the annual White Paper on Public Investment. This is necessary in order to preserve flexibility from year to year and to allow for possible changes in the economic situation, in the needs of traffic, and for other factors. But I aim to maintain a steady increase in expenditure.
Local authority expenditure on classified roads is expected to be about £73 million over the five years with £9.9 million in 1962–63.
Maintenance and minor improvements
Over the five years central government expenditure on trunk roads (including motorways) is expected to be some £78 million. A forward programme for classified roads has not yet been settled. The estimates for 1962–63 are as follows:— Central government: motorways and trunk roads £14.5 million, classified roads £26.4 million. Local authorities: classified roads £11.4 million.
All the figures are for England and Wales.