asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the figures for 1982–83 for trunk road construction; what is the latest predicted outturn for trunk road maintenance; what are the reasons for the changes from previous estimates in the latter; and if he will make a statement.
Good weather and the use of extra labour and equipment by contractors has enabled construction output to be substantially increased during the autumn and winter. I now expect total expenditure in 1982–83 on new construction and improvement, including land, to be about £487 million, £27 million more than in the revised Estimates of July 1982: this will enable many schemes to be completed earlier than planned. In addition, I expect a further £30 million to be spent on structural maintenance, raising total maintenance expenditure to £213 million. As a result the backlog of motorway reconstruction and other major repairs is being substantially reduced.These increases will be partly offset by savings on preparation and supervision—£7 million—and increased receipts—£5 million. I intend to seek a Spring Supplementary Estimate to increase the Roads etc. England vote by £45 million net, to cover these changes. The sum will be charged to the contingency reserve and will thus not add to total public expenditure.
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state in the Official Report for each year since 1979–80 with estimates for 1982–83 the level of spending for the following items (a) trunk road construction, (b) trunk road maintenance, (c) local road construction, (d) local road maintenance (i) as budgeted in the relevant expenditure White Paper and (ii) actual outturn, giving for each year the percentage under or overspend.
Plans for 1979–80 were drawn up by the previous administration in volume terms. Comparisons for that year have been made on that basis revalued to November 1980 prices. As the public expenditure survey is now conducted in cash terms, figures for all subsequent years are given at cash.
Cmnd. 7439 revalued November 1980 prices
| Outturn November 1980 prices
| Shortfall overspend
| Cmnd. 7841 revalued cash
| Outturn cash
| Shortfall overspend
| |
£m 1979–80
| £m 1979–80
| per cent. 1979–80
| £m 1980–81
| £m 1980–81
| per cent. 1980–81
| |
Motorways and trunk roads etc.
| ||||||
| Capital | 539 | 475 | -12 | 422 | 407 | -4 |
| Current | 123 | 128 | +4 | 116 | 117 | +1 |
Local roads
| ||||||
| Capital | 485 | 431 | -11 | 379 | 433 | +14 |
| Maintenance | 668 | 695 | +4 | 601 | 665 | +11 |
| 1981–82 | 1981–82 | 1981–82 | 1982–83 | 1982–83 | 1982–83 | |
Motorways and trunk roads etc.
| ||||||
| Capital | 525 | 449 | -14½ | 536 | 538 | +½ |
| Current | 153 | 179 | +17 | 166 | 208 | +25 |
Local roads
| ||||||
| Capital | 409 | (est) 338 | -17 | 469 | *33O | -30 |
| Maintenance | 678 | (prov) 793 | +17 | 787 | †848 | +9 |
* Based on returns for the first half of the year. | ||||||
| † Based on local authority budget information. | ||||||
The additional expenditure in 1982–83 over the original provision will be charged to the contingency reserve and not add to total public expenditure. It will be covered by the Supplementary Estimate, which my right hon. Friend is announcing in answer to another question today from the hon. Member.
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expenditure on trunk road maintenance additional to the original expenditure White Paper figure for 1982–83; and to what items of maintenance this additional expenditure is being devoted.
Compared with the provision in Cmnd 8494, an extra £45 million is being spent on motorways and trunk road maintenance (including lighting). The increase is distributed as follows:
| £ million | |
| Motorway structural repairs | 21 |
| Other trunk road structural repairs | 20 |
| Motorway recurrent maintenance | 1 |
| Other trunk road recurrent maintenance | 2 |
| Purchase of snowploughs | 1 |
| Total | 45 |