HC Deb 16 October 1996 vol 282 cc970-1W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport is he will list for each of the last five years the budget for bridge strengthening. [40684]

Mr. Watts

Each year, the Government provide the Highways Agency with an overall budget for the maintenance of trunk road structures and, through transport supplementary grant and credit approvals, support to local highway authorities in England for the assessment and strengthening of their structures. Details for the last five years are set out in the table. In neither case are funds specifically earmarked for bridge strengthening.

£ million
Highways agency structures capital maintenance Local highway authorities assessment and strengthening approved expenditure
1992–93 130 111
1993–94 150 137
1994–95 150 137
1995–96 135 122
1996–97 130 103