§ Mr. Brandon-BravoTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what ways he is considering of encouraging county councils to spend more money on roads; and if he will consider making grants directly to district councils, particularly to those cities which were county boroughs.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIf, having examined local highway authorities' 1988–89 maintenance budgets, we decide that measures are required beyond further exhortation we will be examining possible solutions with the local authority associations concerned. We have no plans to pay grant for road maintenance direct to non-metropolitan district councils.