§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives his Department is pursuing to encourage the use of public transport in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [10705]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesCounty councils have been given powers to promote the use of public transport in their areas. Grant assistance is available to them from the Welsh Office in the form of transport grant for major projects; revenue support grant and non-domestic rate income; and grants for public transport operators in the rural areas under the rural transport innovation scheme. Other support can be given under the strategic development scheme and the bus priority scheme, the most recent examples of which I announced on 4 January. They include
£6.8 million over three years to help Rhondda Cynon Taff and Cardiff councils to improve rail links between the valleys and Cardiff;£1.3 million to complete rail signalling between Pontypridd and Taffs Well;£150,000 for a traffic signalling project to improve bus journey times between Pontypridd and Caerphilly; and£52,000 for a bus-only route at Swansea.