To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government have spent on road construction and maintenance in the north-east of England since 1979; how much the Government plan to spend in 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1979 the Government have spent some £412 million in cash terms on road construction and maintenance of trunk roads and the motorways in the north-east of England.Additionally over the last six years the Department has provided transport supplementary grant for local authority road schemes amounting to some £73 million.The total provision for 1992–93 has not yet been decided.