§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost to his Department each year since 1968 of the programme of strengthening and reconstruction of public road bridges over canals known as Operation Bridgeguard; and what is the estimated date of completion of the programme.
§ Mr. Denis HowellAnnual expenditure under Bridgeguard on bridges belonging to the British Waterways Board was
£m 1969 0.2 1970 0.7 1971 1.1 1972 1.1 1973 1.2 1974 1.4 1975 1.4 The White Paper on Public Expenditure (Cmnd. 6393) provides for con- 138W tinuing expenditure up to 1980, and it is not possible to say when the programme will be completed.