§ Mr. Awdryasked the Minister of Transport what has been the year-by-year 69W expenditure on roads in Great Britain since 1946 by central Government and by local government on major improvements and new construction, and on minor improvements and maintenance, respectively; and what are the estimates of expenditure for 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69 and 1969–70, respectively.
§ Mr. SwinglerFor expenditure before 1967–68, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galbraith) on 18th July and 15th December, 1966. Because of the changes referred to below it is not possible to continue this series of statistics in the same form.
Exchequer expenditure in 1967–68 for Great Britain is expected to be:
New Construction and Improvements (Motorways, Trunk Roads and Principal Roads) Maintenance (Motorways and Trunk Roads) £233.6 million £17.4 million It is not possible to give estimates for the years beyond 1967–68.
From 1st April, 1967, the old definitions of "new construction and major improvements" and "maintenance and minor improvements" are superseded by the new definitions of "new construction and improvements" and "maintenance" both of which new definitions include some of the former minor improvements. From the same date, estimated expenditure by local authorities on new construction and improvements on Class II and III roads and on the maintenance of all classified roads has been taken into account in calculating the new rate support grant and they will no longer receive specific exchequer grant towards this expenditure.
The local authorities' relevant expenditure on highways in England and Wales which was taken into account in fixing the level of rate support grants for 1967–68 and 1968–69 was £209.1 million and £228.3 million respectively, as stated in Appendix A to the Minister of Housing and Local Government's Report on the Rate Support Grant Order, 1966.—[Vol. 732, c. 29–30; Vol. 738, c. 147–8.]