§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the projects affected by the Chancellor's statement of public expenditure retrenchment announced on 21st May which fall on his Vote and indicate the total savings expected for the current and prospective year.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe total reductions in programmes for which my Department is responsible are expectd to amount to £7½ million in 1974ߝ75.218W Expenditure in that year by central and local government in Wales on new construction and improvement of motorways, trunk, principal and other roads will be reduced by £1½ million. As a result, my Vote in 1974ߝ75 will be approximately £1 million less than it would otherwise have been. It is too early to specify projects which will be affected.
On local authorities' miscellaneous local services capital expenditure, the distribution of reductions of some £4 million will be largely for the local authorities to decide. The effect on my Vote will be small.
Reductions in current expenditure amount to £1 million on roads and £1 million on miscellaneous local services, which will affect the Vote of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
A circular will shortly be sent to local authorities indicating the savings which the Government expect to be achieved in their expenditure.
For the effect on my Votes of the policy on Civil Service manpower announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to his Question to the Minister for the Civil Service.