HC Deb 30 March 1981 vol 2 cc40-1W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what annual provision is needed to carry out all the schemes in (a) the main list of schemes in the June 1980 roads White Paper and (b) the main and reserve lists up to the period ending March 1984; and what resources will actually be available in each year;

(2) if he will estimate the number of schemes listed with possible starts up to 1984 in the roads White Paper which may not start due to resource constraints.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The provision for motorway and trunk road construction is set out in table 2.6 of the White Paper on the Government's Expenditure Plans 1981–82 to 1983–84 (Cmnd. 8175). It would be unrealistic to assume that all schemes could start in the years shown in the White Paper even if funds were unlimited. Some degree of over-programming was deliberately included in the White Paper—as it is in the Supply Estimates each year—to cover unexpected difficulties with individual schemes. However, as I explained in reply to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Mr. Conlan) on 19 January.—[Vol. 997, c.70]—all schemes in the main programme for 1980 and 1981 which will be ready should start by the end of the year; so will some of the reserve list. I shall be reviewing the position for later years in the light of developments.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will update in 1980 survey prices for the period 1976–77 to 1980–81, the table published in the Official Report, 1 July 1980, column 516, showing the comparison between planned road spending and the outturn.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The information is as follows:

£ million 1980 survey prices
Cmnd 6393 Actual Per cent. *
1976–77
Motorway and trunk road construction 563 514 -9
Motorway and trunk road maintenance etc. 103 93 -10
Local authority road construction 578 514 -11
Local authority road maintenance 632 576 -9
* Shortfall/Overspend
Cmnd 6721 Actual Per cent.*
1977–78
Motorway and trunk road construction 423 341 -19
Motorway and trunk road maintenance etc. 87 89 +2
Local authority road construction 322 319 -1
Local authority road maintenance 578 554 -4
* Shortfall/Overspend
Cmnd 7049 Actual Per cent. *
1978–79
Motorway and trunk road construction 445 342 -23
Motorway and trunk road maintenance etc. 98 104 +6
Local authority road construction 334 307 -8
Local authority road maintenance 556 593 +9
* Shortfall/Overspend
Cmnd 7439† Actual Per cent. *
1979–80
Motorway and trunk road construction 394 353 -10
Motorway and trunk road maintenance etc. 102 114 +11
Local authority road construction 378 342 -10
Local authority road maintenance 551 559 +1
* Shortfall/Overspend
† The figures include the modifications made by the new Government as a result of the June 1979 Budget.
Cmnd 7841 Actual Per cent.*
1980–81
Motorway and trunk road construction 372 320 -14
Motorway and trunk road maintenance etc. 109 102 -6
Local authority road construction 324 n/a n/a
Local authority road maintenance 547 n/a n/a
* Shortfall/Overspend

Both planned and actual figures reflect recent classification changes affecting the expenditure programmes concerned.

Back to