HC Deb 19 December 2002 vol 396 c938W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what funding has been allocated to local authorities for highway maintenance for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2005–06(a) in total and (b) for each local authority; [86096]

(2) what support was given by his Department to local authorities (a) in total and (b) for each authority, in each financial year since 2000–01 for roads maintenance and repair, broken down by different sources of this funding; and what changes are planned in the next 10 years to the level of funding. [86108]

Mr. Jamieson

Before 2000–01 capital allocations were made under the TSG/TPP system. Since then allocations have been made under the Local Transport Plan system. Details of capital funding for English local authorities outside London for the years 1997–98 to 2004–05 have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Capital funding for maintenance in London is a matter for the Mayor.

Revenue funding for highway maintenance is provided through Revenue Support Grant (RSG). RSG is an unhypothecated grant provided to Local Authorities to enable them to carry out their functions; local authorities can choose to spend this on any services for which they have responsibility, subject to local spending priorities. The amounts provided for highway maintenance within the national totals for RSG in the years 1997–98 to 2004–05 are set out in the table.

Highway maintenance revenue funding between 1997–08 and 2004–05
£ million cash
Year Local roads revenue
1997–98 1,658
1998–99 1,721
1999–2000 1,763
2000–01 1,859
2001–02 1,905
2002–03 1,955
2003–04 2,005
2004–05 2,055

The Government is committed to halting the deterioration in local road condition by 2004 and to eliminating the backlogs in carriageway, footway, bridge and street lighting maintenance by 2010. Over £30 billion for local road maintenance is being provided over the timescale of the 10-year Transport Plan.

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