HC Deb 27 February 1984 vol 55 cc17-8W
6. Mr. Mudd

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of transport supplementary grant in 1984–85 he estimates will be spent on road maintenance and transport investment.

Mr. Ridley

TSG is a block grant and it is for county councils to decide how they spend it. Over 80 per cent. of the expenditure accepted for grant was for road maintenance and capital investment.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why it was decided to reduce transport supplementary grant payable to the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils by £73 million in 1984–85.

Mr. Ridley

The aim was to distribute the available grant as fairly and cost-effectively as possible. In terms of grant per head the GLC get £20.95 and the metropolitan county councils get £9.37 which is much more than the shires, at £5.30.

31. Dr. Marek

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will increase the percentage of accepted capital expenditure bids by local authorities for transport supplementary grant for 1984–85.

Mrs. Chalker

In the transport supplementary grant settlement for 1984–85, which the House approved on 23 January, I accepted £647 million of capital expenditure. This was the highest ever total in cash terms, and there can be no question of increasing it.