§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Transport what effect the Government's economic measures will have upon the road programme; if he will bear in mind the importance of continuing to the maximum extent with improvements in this country's communications; and in what way the road programme in Nottinghamshire will be affected.
§ Mr. Tom FraserI explained to the House on 3rd August the way in which the Government's economic measures were likely to affect the road programme. The position of any road schemes in Nottinghamshire which are due to start in the next few months will depend on the outcome of my review.
§ Mr. Powellasked the Minister of Transport what are the figures for classified roads and for maintenance and minor works, respectively, corresponding to the £25 million for motorways and trunk roads which will be the estimated value of contracts to be postponed during the next six months.
§ Mr. Tom FraserI am reviewing with the local authorities concerned the total cost of classified road new construction and major improvement schemes on which work is planned to start in the next six months, so that we can decide which schemes should be deferred and which should go on. The effect of the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on maintenance and minor improvement expenditure will be small.
§ Mr. Powellasked the Minister of Transport what will be the approximate saving in expenditure during 1966–67 in consequence of the deferments which will save £1 million in the current financial year.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThe deferment for six months of about £25 million worth of motorway and trunk road schemes due 413W to start in the next six months would result in a saving in expenditure of about £4 million in the financial year 1966–67. To this would be added any savings consequent upon the re-phasing of other schemes due to start beyond that period.