§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for Transport what financial allocation was made in each of the last five years for motorway construction; and how much was actually spent.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNo specific allocation of funds is made for motorway construction within the cash limit for new construction and improvemet on both motorways and trunk roads. Funds are deployed to the best advantage within the whole cash block as circumstances develop over the year.
Table 1 of the appendix to the Supply Estimates provides a breakdown of the estimated requirements for motorways and trunk road expenditure in the particular year of account, although these do not constitute formal financial allocations. In addition, an item for services which may not be carried out in the year—on motorway and trunk roads together—is included in the reconciliation provided at table 2.
It is, therefore, not possible to make any direct comparison, but the following table shows the relevant figures from table 1 for motorway construction and improvement together with actual expenditure on the schemes in question: 97W
Estimated requirement £ million Actual expenditure £ million 1981–82 267.6 *192.9 1980–81 188.6 156.1 1979–80 181.6 141.2 1978–79 168.7 131.6 1977–78 143.9 144.8 * Provisional outturn.