asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of total public expenditure was spent on construction last year; and whether he will estimate what proportion will be spent this year.

I have been asked to reply.Expenditure on construction represented 8·5 per cent. of the public expenditure planning total in 1981–82 and 8·9 per cent. in 1982–83. These figures are derived from tables 1.1 and 1.15 of volume one of the latest public expenditure White Paper—Cmnd. 8494. The notes to table 1.15 provide details of the definitions used. In addition, there is current expenditure on repair and maintenance accounting for about another 3 to 4 per cent. of the planning total in each year.