§ Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of roads the road construction units have been responsible for constructing in the last eight years; and what was the cost of construction of these roads in each year.
§ Mr. HoramSince 1970 the road construction units have been responsible for the construction of some 1,100 miles of new trunk roads and motorways. The total expenditure on new construction of trunk roads and motorways for which the RCUs were responsible, rounded to the nearest £10m. at outturn prices, has been as follows:
1972/73 £140m. 1973/74 £180m. 1974/75 £190m. 1975/76 £260m. 1976/77 £230m. 1977/78 £185m. Figures are not readily available for 1970–71 or 1971–72.
§ Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of staff currently employed in the road construction units; how many were employed in each of the last eight years since 1970; and what was the total cost of the units in each of these years.
§ Mr. HoramThe total number of permanent staff employed in the road construction units (RCUs) at 1st July 1978 was 2,571. Information for 1971 is not readily available but the number of staff 459W in post on 1st January for each of the remaining years has been as follows:
1972 2,723 1973 3,071 1974 3,158 1975 2,952 1976 3,046 1977 3,022 1978 2,790 The total administrative cost of the RCUs, at outturn prices, has been as follows:
1970/71 £6.3m. 1971/72 £8.0m. 1972/73 £9.8m. 1973/74 £11.8m. 1974/75 £12.7m. 1975/76 £16.2m. 1976/77 £21.2m. 1977/78 £19.8m. NOTE: Approximately £3m. on the expenditure in 1976/77 arose from late requisitions for staff costs incurred in earlier years.