§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest details of expenditure to be incurred under the Government's infrastructure works programme for the development and intermediate areas.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerOn 14th July I announced that the Government had decided to authorise increased capital expenditure of about £100 million on infrastructure works in the development and intermediate areas. This was the provisional estimate of work which could be put in hand quickly and substantially completed before March, 1973.
In the light of subsequent consultations with local authorities and others concerned it appears that schemes satisfying these criteria will involve about £162 million. The Government have therefore authorised additional public expenditure of this amount.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has already given the House details of estimated expenditure for Wales within the total of £162 million. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will be providing information on the additional expenditure in Scotland.
The additional expenditure estimated to arise in English development and intermediate areas is as follows:
£ million Roads 19.00 Schools 5.46 Higher and Further Education 1.06 Hospitals 17.70 Local Authority Health and Social Services 4.30 Locally determined schemes and other items 30.48 78.00 The execution of this work will contribute towards the improvement of the economic and social infrastructure of the 314W assisted areas and will also make a welcome contribution to employment in those areas, particularly in the construction industry.