That is why we are funding the highways maintenance efficiency programme which helps councils work together to deliver a first-class service to their residents, at the same time as saving money.

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The first is a developed world problem, the challenge working-class youth without higher education face finding work in a de-industrialized society.

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The transport secretary then praised the work done by his DfT staff, saying he had a team of "first-class civil servants doing a tough job".

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