HC Deb 29 July 1964 vol 699 cc304-5W
52. Mr. W. Yates

asked the Minister of Transport what are his reasons for reducing the Highway Improvement Grants for minor road improvements and for maintenance in The Wrekin Division.

Mr. Marples

There was no reduction in the funds made available to Salop County Council compared with the previous year's allocation. Because of the claims of more urgent works elsewhere, it was not, however, possible to meet in full their estimate for the current financial year, which represented one tenth of their ten year programme of trunk road maintenance and minor improvements. It was foreseen at the time the national programme was formulated that such adjustments might be necessary and therefore no undertaking was given to provide agent authorities with an equal allocation each year.