§ Mr. Forresterasked the Minister of Transport what were the planned figures in Cmnd. 7049 for English motorway and trunk road construction in 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81 in 1979 survey prices; what were the planned figures for that budget for those years following the June expenditure cuts; what are the planned figures following the expenditure cuts in Cmnd. 7746; and what is the presently expected outturn for each of those years, all figures at 1979 survey prices.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe planned figures in Cmnd. 7049 for motorway and trunk road construction in England for the years 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81 were equivalent to £364 million, £363 million and £363 million respectively.
For 1978–79 the outturn was some £280 million or 23 per cent. below the level planned in Cmnd. 7049. The plans for 1979–80 were revised in Cmnd. 7439 to a figure equivalent to £328 million. This was reduced by £8 million in the previous Administration's Estimates and a further £8 million in the June Budget. The out-turn is subject to some uncertainty but is currently expected to be about £291 million, approximately 11 per cent. below the level originally planned for that year in Cmnd. 7439. The amount available for 1980–81 was also revised in Cmnd. 7439 and again in Cmnd. 7746 and is currently set at £312 million. I have no reason at this stage to expect that expenditure will fall short of provision in 1980–81.
All the above figures are at 1979 survey prices.
§ Mr. Forresterasked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that over 99 per cent. of all food, drink and tobacco is carried by road, what effect the slow down in the trunk and local road programme will have on the cost of these items.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe slow-down in the trunk and local road programme will not, in general, have a noticeable effect on the prices of these everyday items.