§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is considering further action which will ensure that local authority expenditure allocations for road construction and repair will be used to their fullest extent.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyProvision for new construction has not been underspent since transport supplementary grant was limited to roads capital expenditure in 1985–86. We shall be keeping the position under review.
The recent substantial underspend on road maintenance is regrettable. We are looking to highway authorities to set budgets for 1988–89 which more closely reflect provision in the public expenditure survey. In the light of those budgets we shall consider whether further action is necessary and might be effective.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the amount of money made available for roads to(a) the Department of Transport and (b) local authorities in England and Wales for (i) capital expenditure and (ii) repairs; and what was the amount spent in each year from 1978 to 1987.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[holding answer 10 February 1988]: The tables show provision and outturn for national roads (motorways and other trunk roads) and local roads in England. The Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for roads in Wales.
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(a) National Roads (Department of Transport) £ million cash Provision Outturn 1978–79 Capital 377 327 Current — 40 1979–80 Capital 443 402 Current — 45 1980–81 Capital 536 472
Provision Outturn Current — 50 1981–82 Capital 685 557 Current — 69 1982–83 Capital 739 672 Current — 60 1983–84 Capital 652 641 Current 71 64 1984–85 Capital 724 718 Current 7l 78 1985–86 Capital 741 734 Current 75 77 1986–87 Capital 812 766 Current 81 93 1987–88 Capital 893 ֵ Current 83 ֵ ֵ Not available.
Notes:
1. Capital expenditure covers new construction and improvement schemes and structural maintenance. Current expenditure covers routine maintenance of the network. (A different capital/current distinction applies to local roads expenditure.)
2. Because of changes in the structure of the vote, for the years 1978–79 to 1982–83, an accurate allocation of the provision totals between capital and current cannot be made. Separate outturn figures are available.
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(b) Local Roads (Local Authorities) £ million cash Provision Outturn 1978–79 Capital n/a 221 Current 477 505 1979–80 Capital 295 293 Current 591 575 1980–81 Capital 318 354 Current 708 667
Provision Outturn 1981–82 Capital 344 308 Current 710 793 1982–83 Capital 410 385 Current 799 844 1983–84 Capital 469 437 Current 844 877 1984–85 Capital 482 451 Current 902 907 1985–86 Capital 492 522 Current 972 963 1986–87 Capital 523 538 Current 1,115 1,072 1987–88 Capital 617 n/a Current 1,264 1,117 Notes:
1. Capital expenditure covers new construction and improvement schemes only. Current expenditure covers all renewal (including structural) and routine maintenance plus road safety. (A different capital/maintenance distinction applies to national roads expenditure).
2. Figures exclude urban programme and car parks.
3. Outturns for 1986–87 remain provisional.
4. Current outturn for 1987–88 is the total of local authority budgets.