§ Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest estimate of road capital expenditure by local authorities in the financial year 1983–84; and on which quarterly returns the estimate is based.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt would be misleading to give an estimate based on the latest available (third quarter) capital payments returns for 1983–84, as these do not provide an adequate basis for forecasting the outturn for local authority capital expenditure on roads. A more reliable estimate based on fourth quarter returns should be available soon.