Raod spending to double, says Brown

Chancellor Gordon Brown announced today that spending on road improvement will double next year.

Chancellor Gordon Brown announced today that spending on road improvement will double next year.

He said the £1 billion, two-year project illustrated how the Government was investing in public services.

Details of the scheme will be given tomorrow by officials from the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR).

But the Treasury today said spending on road improvement will increase from £267 million this year to £525 million in 2001.

And another £560 million will be spent in the following year, a spokesman said.

A DETR spokesman said the scheme, which will be carried out across England, would not involve building new roads.

Instead it will pay for projects such as road surface improvements and bridge strengthening.