§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Transport what advice has been sought by his Department from the British Board of Agrément regarding the testing of construction materials used in motorway building or maintenance; and with what results.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy Department makes use of the British Board of Agrément roads and bridges certificates for quality control of construction products not covered by British standard specifications. Close contact is maintained between my Department and BBA on the procedures and tests for these certificates and on the feasibility of covering new products.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total cost to public funds of the reconstruction, maintenance and new carriageway construction of the M1, M4, M5 and M6 motorways, respectively, over each of the last five financial years; and what is the budget for the current financial year.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe information requested is as follows. The figures are actual cash outturns except those for 1983–84 which are estimated cash outturns.
150W
Year Reconstruction Maintenance New Works £ million £ million £ million M1: 1978–79 0.79 4.31 0.67 1979–80 5.26 4.55 1.76 1980–81 7.12 8.36 4.74 1981–82 13.85 9.08 10.92 1982–83 15.20 19.89 16.58 1983–84 17.88 16.45 9.10 M4 (in England): 1978–79 — 2.19 0.04 1979–80 — 2.05 0.56 1980–81 — 5.67 0.26 1981–82 0.07 5.18 0.01 1982–83 0.05 *8.01 0.28- 1983–84 2.45 *5.82 0.008 M5: 1978–79 0.71 3.48 3.49 1979–80 0.45 2.29 4.03 1980–81 7.28 3.38 1.67 1981–82 6.62 5.06 1.06 1982–83 5.37 6.71 0.20
Year Reconstruction Maintenance New Works £ million £ million £ million 1983–84 1.16 10.78 — M6: 1978–79 4.12 6.93 1.03 1979–80 2.26 7.59 0.88 1980–81 6.60 10.47 0.11 1981–82 9.47 15.11 0.004 1982–83 3.34 24.06 0.10 1983–84 3.58 26.01 1.184 *Includes Severn Bridge repairs. Notes:
1. "Reconstruction" covers the full depth renewal of the road pavement, over part or the full width of the carriageway.
2. "Maintenance" covers all other repairs and servicing of the motorways referred to in this answer.
3. "New Works" includes items such as carriageway widening, sign provision, Iand acquisition, new horticultural work and consulting engineers' fees associated with these items.