Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much he plans to invest in the North East of England's highways to improve roads and to carry out essential maintenance up to 2020.

The Government is committed to investing in the North East of England’s highways to improve and maintain roads up to 2020 through the following:

• Highways Maintenance Block (2015/16 - 2020/21) = £268.0m.
• Integrated Transport Block = £112.2m.
• Two local major road schemes = £61.5m.
• Significant funding to the Local Enterprise Partnerships, including £82.5m for the New Wear Crossing.
• Highways England will be investing in major schemes as part of the Road Investment Strategy = £425m spend up to 2020, with several schemes continuing spend and construction beyond 2020.
• Highways England will also undertake renewals and maintenance across the Strategic Road Network in Yorkshire and the North East up to 2020 = £600m.
• Highways England will also spend in the region of £30m per annum on the routine maintenance of the Strategic Road Network in Yorkshire and the North East.