§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport which trunk road schemes expected to start in 1981–82 for which provision was made in the Supply Estimates will not now start before the end of the financial year.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe schemes are:
- All—Attleborough bypass, Norfolk
- A34—Newbury-Litchfield stage 1 (Whitway Diversion), Hants
- A51—Tarwin south/west bypass, Cheshire
- A56—Accrington eastern bypass (Southern Section), Lanes
- A63—South Docks Road, Hull, Humberside*
- A69—Greenhead diversion, Northumberland
- A590—Levens bridge diversion, Cumbria†
* Advance earthworks contract let
† Tenders invited January 1982
The delay in every case but one has been caused by the statutory procedures which we are required to follow. I expect almost all to start in 1982–83.
§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Transport why he has suspended preparation work on more than 100 schemes in the trunk road programme; whether he will resume work on these schemes; and whether he Ls satisfied with the operation of the reserve pool of schemes to make use of available funds.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWork was temporarily suspended in 1980 on some schemes as there was no prospect of funds being available in the near future for their construction. Work will be resumed as soon as resources are likely to become available. Nine schemes have already been restarted. The policy of having a reserve list has proved its worth and the size of the list has been increased for the period 1982 and 1983.
§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Transport what annual provision would be required to carry out all the schemes listed in the roads White Paper in (a) the main list of schemes for 1982 and 1983 and (b) the main and reserve lists of schemes for 1982 and 1983; and how this compares with the planned budget for those years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt 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 is deliberately included to cover unexpected difficulties with individual schemes.
Some information about provision made for trunk road construction and maintenance is set out in para. 18 of the recent White Paper on roads, Cmnd. 8496. More detailed information will be contained in the White Paper on the Government's expenditure plans to be published shortly. I expect to have sufficient funds to enable all schemes which will be ready to start during 1982–83 to do so, including reserve list schemes unless costs rise much faster than we have assumed. I shall be reviewing the position for later years in due course.
§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will update for 1980–81 and 1981–82 in 1980 survey prices the tables published in the Official Report, 30 March 1981, column 41, showing the comparison between planned road spending and the outturn.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe following table gives the figures in cash, because the public expenditure survey is now conducted in cash terms.
1980–81 1981–82 Cmnd.7841 revalued Outturn Percentage Shortfall/overspend Cmnd.8175 revalued Estimated Outtturn Percentage Shortfall/overspend Motorways and Trunk roads etc. Capital 422 407 -4 525 *434 -17 Current 116 117 +1 153 *174 +14 Local Roads Construction 379 433 +14 409 338 -17 Maintenance 601 665 +11 678 692 +2 * These figures reflect later estimates of outturn than those published in the roads White Paper, Cmnd. 8496.