HC Deb 04 June 1980 vol 985 cc746-7W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the figures given on page VI-26 of Supply Estimates 1979–80, table 2 together with figures giving the latest estimate for each item in the table; what the provision was after allowing for stated policy changes during the year; and if he will make a statement explaining why the provision differs from the outturn.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The figures given in the table 2 on page VI-26 of the Supply Estimates 1979–80 dated 16 March 1979 were amended by the Revised Estimate dated 6 July 1979, which gave effect to the Government's revised expenditure plan for new construction and improvement of motorways and trunk roads for the year. A revised table 2 appeared on page 107 of the later Estimates. It is reproduced below. This subhead of the roads Vote is only one element in the larger roads cash limit block.

A table giving current estimates of outturn in the same detail cannot be readily provided. The management of the road programme was explained in reply to the hon. member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on 30 January—[Vol. 977, c. 699–700]—and in reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Cant) on 21 May.—[Vol. 985, c. 244.]

ROADS, &C. ENGLAND (6 July 1979) 1979–80, Class VI, 3
APPENDIX
TABLE 2: SUMMARY AND RECONCILIATION WITH ESTIMATE
Motorways and Trunk Roads Current estimate of total cost Probable expenditure to 31 March 1979 Estimated requirements for 1979–80 at Survey prices Estimated requirements for 1979–80 (at outturn prices)
£000 £000 £000 £000
Work in progress at 1 April 1979 on schemes costing more than £1,000,000 … … … 408,379 177,888 133,262 148,330
New schemes proposed to start in 1979–80 costing more than £1,000,000 … … … 331,257 11,216 71,028 79,041
Residual expenditure on completed schemes and preliminary expenditure on land, &c. for future schemes costing £1,000,000 or more … — — 66,209 72,366
TOTAL … … … … … 739,636 189,104 270,499 299,737
Other schemes costing less than £1,000,000 each — — 26,223 29,371
Less: Allowances for services which may not be carried out in the year … … … … — — 28,635 32,068
TOTAL—Subhead A1 … … … — — 268,087 297,040