§ Mr. Wallerasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, further to his announcement of proposals for the 1987–88 transport supplementary grant settlement on 17 December, he is now in a position to make clear his intentions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MooreI am pleased to announce that I intend to accept £360 million of expenditure for transport supplementary grant in 1987–88 at a flat rate of 50 per cent. This £180 million of grant is an increase of almost 10 per cent. over 1986–87. It means that I can both maintain my commitment to support schemes accepted in previous settlements and accept a large number of new schemes.
Most of the committed schemes are already under construction or starting in 1986–87. With TSG support to their road programmes, local authorities have already reported for 1985–86 completion of 60 major schemes—those costing £1 million or more—with a total value of £200 million and a start of works on 68 schemes costing £360 million. During 1986–87 they plan to complete a further 49 major schemes costing £150 million and start 76 costing £350 million.
I also intend to accept 70 new schemes costing £350 million, including important improvements such as the Harrogate-Knaresborough bypass; a further section of the Blackwater Valley route; Regent Road, Salford; Merton relief road and the Coventry Road juction of the middle ring road in Birmingham.
The programmes on roads of more than local importance accepted for TSG are important because they save lives, reduce congestion and relieve communities from the effects of through traffic. They help the national economy by aiding the efficient flow of goods, people and services. TSG reflects the national taxpayer's interest in helping local authorities to improve roads carrying heavier longer distance traffic such as those on the country's 138W primary route network or major urban roads which must be adequate in quality and capacity to complement our trunk roads and motorways. The Department's commitment to maintain support in succeeding years providing progress is satisfactory gives authorities the confidence to plan and finance major schemes where they are needed.
European Road Safety Year is over, but I want road safety to remain high on the agenda. Many smaller schemes on these heavily trafficked roads often produce very significant accident savings amongst other benefits. Timely investment in smaller schemes may also avoid the need for more substantial works at a later date, giving further benefits to the community. To encourage this worthwhile work, I have taken into account some £55 million of expenditure on minor works for grant in 1987–88, £14 million more than 1986–87.