asked the Secretary of State for Transport how the maintenance spending on local roads has varied in each year in real terms since 1973.

Figures for spending on local road maintenance—including lighting—in England in £ million at November 1979 prices are as follows:

	£ million
1973–74	660
1974–75	638
1975–76	623
1976–77	576
1977–78	554
1978–79	593
1979–80	578
1980–81	566

Figures for 1981–82 are not yet available.Prior to 1978–79, the figures include an element for purchases of plant and machinery. This has been excluded in later years. The exact annual amounts are not known, but about £12 million can be deducted from years prior to 1978–79 for comparative purposes.