asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the total estimated commitments outstanding on 31st March 1975 and the total estimated new commitments in 1975–76 in respect of new construction and major improvements for trunk roads, and for principal roads and loans to highway authorities, respectively.

Commitments outstanding in respect of new road construc- tion and improvements at 31st March 1975 were:

	£ million
Trunk roads (including motorways)	63·3
Principal roads (grants)	29·8

Provisional estimates of new commitments in 1975–76 amount to £36·0 million for trunk roads, including motorways. It is not possible to provide estimated new commitments for principal roads, since that class of road ceased to exist on 16th May 1975 following the reorganisation of local government.There were no outstanding commitments on 31st March 1975 for loans to highway authorities, and no such commitment is expected in 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the estimated cost of trunk and principal road schemes, respectively, in preparation and not firmly programmed at 31st March 1975.

For trunk road schemes, about £170 million; for principal road schemes, about £80 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the lengths of public highways as at 16th May 1975 in each of the following categories: trunk roads, classified principal roads, classified non-principal roads, unclassified roads and the mileage of motorway included in the totals of trunk and classified principal roads, respectively.

I hope that this information will be available in a few weeks' time, and I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as I can.