§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide statistics of the total cost of motorway and other roads repairs and maintenance during the years 1981 to 1986 with estimates of the percentage of roads deterioration attributable to(a) wear and tear, (b) damage caused by lorries, (c) damage caused by cars and light vehicles and (d) damage caused by other transport modes.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyExpenditure on carriageway maintenance in recent years has been as follows:
£ millions, at 1985–86 prices (England only) National roads (motorway and trunk) Other roads 1981–82 1 390 1982–83 147 412 1983–84 125 386 1984–85 149 370 1985–86 123 379 1 Not available. The percentages of road deterioration due to weathering and traffic wear (or "damage") are not known.
Traffic wear is due mostly to vehicles with high axle loadings. These are mostly heavy goods vehicles, but also include some public service vehicles. On trunk roads the heaviest vehicles with four or more axles are responsible 702W for three quarters of the damage. On principal roads the proportion is about one half, and on other roads about one third.