§ Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest estimate of the length of Scottish motorways and trunk roads requiring reconstruction, compared to the total length of the road network.
§ Mr. AncramEstimates of the length of motorways and trunk roads requiring reconstruction, as distinct from structural repairs generally (ie reconstruction, resurfacing, overlay or surface dressing), are not separately available. In 1984, 360 kms of carriageway on such roads were assessed as requiring structural repairs generally, representing 9.5 per cent. of the total network of carriageway length.
§ Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has a long-term programme to reduce the 353W backlog of Scottish trunk roads requiring reconstruction, analagous to that of the Department of Transport for English trunk roads.
§ Mr. AncramYes. In view of an increase in the length of trunk road requiring structural repairs, my right hon. Friend has decided to increase expenditure on such work. Provision in the supply estimates for 1985–86 was £13.387 million but this was increased in the winter supplementary estimates to 15.262 million. In 1986–87, this will be further increased to £18 million.
§ Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, further to his answer in the Official Report of 9 December, column 457, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston, he will consider co-operating with regional and island councils to produce an annual road maintenance condition survey similar to the one produced for England and Wales.
§ Mr. AncramI do not consider that this would be necessary or helpful in view of the comprehensive information already available for trunk roads and motorways in Scotland, and the participation of most roads authorities in a sample survey for the remaining roads.