asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much of the public expenditure cuts announced in December will apply to the counties of Brecon and Radnor.

It is not possible to forecast how much of the public expenditure cuts will apply to any particular part of Wales since much will depend on what schemes are put to me for approval by the authorities concerned.

Does the Secretary of State agree that there has been a cut in these counties, however much it may be, and that since his Government have been in power there has been a continuous shift of emphasis in that local authorities have been obliged to find more and more of their income? Can we expect a further announcement on cuts in public expenditure in view of today's announcement of the balance of trade figures?

Since the Government have been in power local authorities have spent very much more than at any other time in their history. As I said earlier, we in Wales must take a fair share of the proposed cuts, but I am happy to say that we are required to take only a fair share of the reduction.

What is this fair share to be? Will the Secretary of State answer my previouns question? Is there to be a cut of 10 per cent. in the overall expenditure on roads in Wales in the financial year 1974–75? Will the Secretary of State please reply?

The figures for 1974–75 on reduction of capital expenditure on roads in Wales amount to £9·8 million. On procurement of roads the reduction will be £1·8 million.