§ Mr. Fitchasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to sustain the maintenance budget for trunk roads other than motorways at the current level; and, if so, whether he believes there will be any long-term decline in maintenance standards.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe provision for maintenance of trunk roads will depend upon their structural condition, on the volume and nature of traffic using them and on the competing demands of motorway maintenance. These factors change from year to year, which is why we propose to keep constituent parts of the total budget for maintenance under continuous review so as to maintain safety and obtain value for money.