Further arising out of the reply, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in many instances major road improvement schemes have been phased out over the last 18 months, that there is a curtailment in road design work on national primary and secondary roads by many county councils in anticipation of the lack of finance for grants from his Department to put these schemes into operation? Will he make a statement on the effects that this policy would have on employment with councils, including the employment of persons in the maintenance and repair of machinery?

I would not so agree. As a matter of fact the very opposite is the position. In 1972-73 in relation to the overall spending on local government services the sum provided was £217.4 million. This year it is £422.33 million, a very substantial increase. We have in 1972-73 for sanitary services £8.23 million as against £25 million provided this year. For roads, for which the Deputy is now showing concern, in 1972-73 £16 million was provided as against £24 million this year.

It should be £32 million.

For local authority housing £25 million in 1972-73 as against £65 million this year and for house purchase and housing loans in 1972-73 £12 million as against £40 million this year. I cannot in the light of these facts——

I would like to thank the Parliamentary Secretary for information for which I did not ask him. Perhaps he would kindly state whether he is aware of the fact that there is a curtailment in road design work on national primary and secondary roads by many county councils in anticipation of the lack of finance to put through these schemes for 1977 and 1978, and would he give a statement on this matter?

Hear, hear. Answer that.

There is no trouble in answering that question because the Deputy is relating his query to 1977 and I state that the matter of road grants for 1977 will be settled in due course. The Deputy is ahead of himself. That allocation has not yet been made.