§ Mr. Aitkenasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total cost of his scheme to plant 160,000 trees and shrubs along motorways and trunk roads in Kent this winter; if he will review this expenditure in view of the present economic climate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe total cost of planting trees and shrubs along trunk roads and motorways in Kent this winter is estimated at £220,000. This expenditure forms part of the capital cost of the roads concerned. The planting will implement the landscape proposals which we presented at past public inquiries and will fulfil our commitments to objectors and the public in general. I am always anxious to obtain full value for money from all316W expenditure on our road programme but I also regard it as a high priority to minimise the damage that new roads would otherwise cause to the landscape in such an attractive county as Kent.