§ Mr. John Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration is given by his Department while assessing local authority expenditure plans of the implications for their personal injuries liabilities of any reduction in central Government funding dedicated to expenditure on roads.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI have been asked to reply.
There is no Government funding dedicated exclusively to local authority expenditure on roads. Transport supplementary grant is paid to local authorities in support of their transport expenditure generally.
Before my right hon. Friend determines the level of estimated transport expenditure to accept for grant, he considers the transport policies and programmes submitted to him by county councils. Local authorities are not asked to identify estimated expenditure on personal injuries liabilities in these documents. It is for them to decide how best to meet their various obligations within the resources available to them.