asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the figure for actual expenditure on trunk roads in England in 1984–85; and how this compares with the net provision.

Latest outturn figures for the year show that gross spending on trunk roads was provisionally £820.5 million and, once an estimated £14.3 million of receipts are accounted for, we can expect the net total to be around £806.2 million. This is under £2 million—or less than 0.25 per cent.—short of the cash limit. Firm figures for the year are expected to be available in June but are unlikely to differ significantly from those given above. This is a very good result.