Written question asked by Owen Paterson (Conservative) on Wednesday, 14 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 December 2005. It was answered by Stephen Ladyman (Labour) on Monday, 19 December 2005 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Roads

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's projected spending on road building is in each of the next five years, broken down by category of road; and how many miles of each category of road he expects to be built over that period.

Answer: We have made indicative budget allocations of £379 million in 2006–07 and £578 million in 2007–08 for major trunk road schemes on motorways and trunk roads categorised as of national importance. In 2006–07 through to 2007–08 we expect to complete two national schemes, which collectively will deliver approximately 6.3 miles of road improvements to the network, and to have started works on eleven others. Expenditure on these roads beyond 2007–08 will be reviewed as part of the next Spending Review and announcements about spending levels beyond 2007–08 will be made after the conclusion of that review.Future expenditure on motorways and trunk roads categorised as of regional importance, and on roads which are the responsibility of Local Highway Authorities, will be reviewed in the light of the regions' advice on their priorities for major transport schemes within indicative Regional Funding Allocations, which we published in July 2004. The regions' advice is expected in January 2006. However, the Highways Agency is currently working to indicative budget allocations of £262 million in 2006–07 and £328 million in 2007–08 for major trunk road schemes on motorways and trunk roads categorised as of regional importance. In 2006–07 through to 2007–08 the Highways Agency expects to complete 17 regional schemes, which collectively will deliver approximately 58 miles of road improvements to the network, and to have started works on nine others.

Secondary information