§ Mr. Wallerasked the Secretary of State for Transport what account he took in formulating the public expenditure provision for local authority road maintenance for 1984–85 of the evidence of increased incidence of defects noted in the 1983 report of the national road maintenance and condition survey; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIn making almost 8 per cent. greater public expenditure provision for road maintenance in 1984–85 than in 1983–84, on top of the 22 per cent. increase made over the two previous years, my right hon. Friend took into account the 1983 report of the national road maintenance and condition survey together, with other relevant considerations such as the overall need to restrain public expenditure. The 1984 report of the national road maintenance survey showed that there was no significant change in the condition of local roads and that standards overall were, if anything, slightly better than in 1977 when the survey began.