HC Deb 15 June 1993 vol 226 c525W
Mr. Callaghan

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision has been made for expenditure on trunk roads in each of the next three years.

Mr. Key

The provision for expenditure on trunk roads in England is £2,092 million in 1993–94, £2,151 million in 1994–95 and £2,059 million in 1995–96.

Mr. Callaghan

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of jobs involved in current highway projects on the trunk road network.

Mr. Key

Some 50 new construction schemes are under construction and many major maintenance projects are under way on the English trunk road network. The number of jobs on these sites varies from day to day. In addition, there are people working in the industries supplying aggregates, steel, communications equipment, and other materials. On the basis of comments by independent bodies, it is estimated that, each £30,000 of capital expenditure directly supports one job. On this basis, the £1,932 million we plan to spend on new construction and capital maintenance in 1993–94 will directly support 60,000 to 70,000 jobs, and a good many more besides in supplying industries.