1. Introduction

1.1 This chapter provides information on finance, such as expenditure on transport within the Secretary of State's responsibility and on transport controlled by Local Authorities, capital and current expenditure on motorways and trunk roads, government grants for the construction and improvement of harbour facilities, petrol and diesel prices and duties, and average weekly household expenditure on transport.

2. Main Points

2.1 Expenditure on motorways and trunk roads in 1997-98 was estimated at £171 million, 16% less than in 1996-97, and around 25% less than in 1995-96. Total expenditure on transport within the Secretary of State's responsibility in 1997-98 was estimated at £294 million, 9% lower than for the previous year, and 41% less than the recent peak expenditure of £495 million in 1993-94. (Table 11.1)

2.2 The average weekly household expenditure on transport and vehicles over the financial year 1996-97 was estimated to be 21% higher than in 1995-96, and was more than twice the average over the two years 1986/87 (compared with a corresponding increase of 55% in the retail prices index). Within this total, expenditure on net purchase of motor vehicles, spares and accessories was estimated to have increased on the previous financial year by 33%. The figures are subject to sampling variability, which might explain why the apparent average for bus and coach fares increased by 40%. (Table 11.12)

3. Notes and Definitions

3.1 Following local government reorganisation on 1 April 1996, the management and maintenance of motorways and other trunk roads was sub-divided into 8 operating units. Details of the areas covered by each of these units can be found in Annex 1.

4. Sources

4.1 The data in this chapter has been produced from the following sources:-

Table 11.1(a) - the publication "Serving Scotland's Needs" which details current public expenditure and plans to 1998/1999

Tables 11.1(b), 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7 and 11.8 - from returns by Councils and boards to The Scottish Office

Tables 11.2 and 11.3 - The Scottish Office National Roads Directorate

Table 11.9 - The Scottish Office Transport Division 2

Tables 11.10 and 11.11 - the Department of Trade and Industry

Table 11.12 - the Office for National Statistics.

5. Further Information

5.1 For further information on Tables 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7 and 11.8 contact Mrs Anne Oxley of The Scottish Office Local Government Finance Statistics branch (tel: 0131 244 7030)

5.2 For further information on Table 11.10 contact Mr Adrian Jones, Department of Trade and Industry (tel: 0171 215 5191)

5.3 For further information on Table 11.12 contact Ms Judi Morgan, Office for National Statistics
(tel: 0171 533 5756).

List of Tables