§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. RipponThe total reductions in programmes for which my Department is responsible are expected to amount to 185W some £185 million in 1974–75 and £10–20 million in the current year. Expenditure in 1974–75 by central and local government on road new construction in England should be reduced by about £45 million, on motorways and trunk road maintenance by some £9 million, and on maintenance of local authority roads by about £31 million. (These and the other figures below are at 1972 prices). As a result, Voted expenditure (including specific grants on the above) is likely to be reduced by about £40 million in 1974–75. There will be small reductions in 1973–74. It is too early to specify the projects affected.
A circular will shortly be sent to local authorities indicating the savings which the Government would expect to be achieved on their expenditure. The distribution between programmes will largely be for local authorities to decide. On current expenditure, the Government envisage overall savings in England and Wales on education, personal social services and others in addition to road maintenance already mentioned. The total reduction should amount to something over £70 million in 1974–75. The effect on my Department's Votes will depend largely on the rate of grant determined in this year's rate support grant settlement.
I envisage making reductions on local authority miscellaneous capital expenditure in England of about £75 million in 1974–75 by withholding approvals for key sector projects and by reducing the total sums available for locally determined schemes. Consequential savings in 1973–74 might amount to about £10 million.
A reduction of about £5 million in my Department's Voted expenditure in 1974–75 will be made by deferring expenditure on the acquisition of land adjacent to the Royal Mint site in London, the redevelopment of Richmond Terrace, a new building at Vauxhall Bridgefoot and on maintenance and minor improvements of public buildings. Reductions in programmes for which other Ministers are responsible will produce further savings on accommodation Votes. No expenditure will be incurred on the proposed new parliamentary building this year or in 1974–75.
My Department will be discussing with the nationalised transport industries the 186W distribution of the cuts in their investment programmes in 1974–75 to produce a total approaching £10 million.
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.