Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 25 July 1957.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage of present investment in the roads programme as compared with that in electricity, coal and railways, respectively.
As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will with permission publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
In view of the fact that the percentage is, I have no doubt, extremely small, does not my hon. Friend think that there should be a review in order to increase the very necessary expenditure on the roads programme?
I think that, when he studies them, my hon. and gallant Friend will find that the figures do cast an interesting light upon the proportions.
The figures for 1956 are as follows:— | ||
£ million | Per cent. | |
Total gross fixed investment | 3,139 | 100 |
Road transport— | ||
Roads and public lighting | 29 | 0·9 |
Road vehicles— | ||
public passenger vehicles | 19 | 0·6 |
goods vehicles | 144 | 4·6 |
cars* | 122 | 3·9 |
Total vehicles | 285 | 9·1 |
Railways— | ||
Rolling stock | 65 | 2·1 |
Other | 27 | 0·8 |
Total railways† | 92 | 2·9 |
Electricity† | 247 | 7·9 |
Coal mining† | 84 | 2·7 |
* Business expenditure only. | ||
† Includes small amounts for road vehicles. |