§ 88. Mrs. Knightasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the reduction in Government grants to local authorities is causing them to refrain from repairing local authority road surfaces; and, in view of the hazard to road safety, if he will now increase the grants payable.
Mr. Bob BrownExpenditure on maintenance of local authority roads is not eligible for specific grant; it ranks as relevant expenditure for the determination of rate support grant. Local highway authorities were requested in January, 1968, to reduce their planned expenditure on roads by 15 per cent. during 1968–69 and 1969–70 and this cut was reflected in the levels of expenditure envisaged in the Rate Support Grant Order, 1968. The detailed implementation of the cut in such a way as to minimise hazards is a matter for local authorities' judgment, but in the Government's view no serious risk is involved in continuing for the time being to impose severe restriction on maintenance expenditure on minor roads.