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Written question asked by Mark Ferguson (Labour) on Thursday, 9 January 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 January 2025 (named day). It was answered by Lilian Greenwood (Labour) on Thursday, 16 January 2025 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Roads: Infrastructure

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of spending on road infrastructure in (a) the North East and (b) England over the last 15 years by (i) percentage of total Departmental spend and (ii) per head.

Answer

Figures on public sector expenditure at national and regional levels are published as part of HM Treasury’s Country and Regional Analysis (CRA) statistics (available here for current and previous publications: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/country-and-regional-analysis). In the most recent publication, figures are provided from 2019/20 to 2023/24.

The figures included below are in 2023/24 prices.

In 2023/24, capital expenditure for the Department of Transport and its partner bodies on national and local roads was £284m in the North East of England and £3,754m in England. Capital expenditure on national and local roads in the North East of England was 0.94% of total Department for Transport expenditure. Capital expenditure on national and local roads in England was 12.39% of total Department for Transport expenditure.

Department for Transport Expenditure and Capital Expenditure on national and local roads by Selected Regions, 2023/24 prices, £m (2019/20 to 2023/24)

Expenditure

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

Total DfT Expenditure

25,010

35,113

32,393

30,039

30,306

Capital Expenditure in North East England: national roads and local roads

193

315

301

369

284

As a Proportion of Total DfT Expenditure

0.77%

0.90%

0.93%

1.23%

0.94%

Capital Expenditure in England: national roads and local roads

4,049

4,176

3,563

3,641

3,754

As a Proportion of Total DfT Expenditure

16.19%

11.89%

11.00%

12.12%

12.39%

Applying regional population estimates from the ONS to HMT’s Country and Regional Analysis data allows for a view of per capita spend by region. In 2023/24, capital expenditure per capita on national and local roads was £105 in the North East of England and £65 in England.

Department for Transport Capital Expenditure on national roads and local roads by Selected Regions £ per capita, 2023/24 prices, (2019/20 to 2023/24)

Region

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

North East England

73

119

114

138

105

England

72

74

63

64

65

The Government remains committed to driving prosperity across the United Kingdom, ensuring that growth is felt at both a regional and national level.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
23005
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Infrastructure Public expenditure Per capita costs Roads
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk