asked the Minister of Transport what effect the restraints on local authorities' expenditure in England and Wales will have on their ability to clear snow and to salt roads during the coming winter.

My right hon. Friend is expecting some reduction in local authority spending in England across the entire range of transport activities. How this is achieved is ultimately for local authorities to decide. I have every confidence, however, that they will do their best to provide the same excellent standard of winter maintenance that the country has come to expect.