§ 32. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many counties have expressed anxiety at the level of resources available for road maintenance in their 1980 transport policy plan submissions; and what steps he is taking to reduce such anxieties.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeMost county councils, in their 1980 transport policies and programmes, expressed some concern about the level of resources available for road maintenance, and we took note of their views in deciding the distribution of accepted expenditure for transport supplementary grant. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the relatively small savings in maintenance expenditure that have been allowed for can be achieved without lowering standards by careful management and increased efficiency. In the settlement we have particularly sought to protect counties which were planning to make significant reductions in their maintenance expenditure, and those where there was clear evidence of high need.