§ Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the rise in the schedule price of bitumen since the start of 1984; and what impact this will have on the volume of road maintenance and road construction in 1985–86.
§ Mrs. ChalkerBased on schedules of prices issued by some major producers, bitumen prices have risen in the308W range of 30 to 38 per cent. since the beginning of 1984. The price of bitumen is only one among many factors which influence the overall costs of road construction and maintenance. The net effect on the trunk road programme is expected to be less than 1 per cent. which is likely to be offset by the continuing trend of keen tender prices.