asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total estimated expenditure on highway maintenance, the proportion of this amount raised (a) from local rates and (b) from central Government; and the amount of expenditure per mile of highway maintained in 1975–76, and the percentage increase or decrease that each amount represents on the comparable figures for 1974–75 for each county council in England and Wales.

Following is the expenditure forecast included in the latest Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 5879) for highway maintenance in England at November 1973 prices. Responsibility for this exepnditure in Wales rests with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales: