§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library copies of all the bids by eligible local authorities in England for transport supplementary grant in 1998–99; [20563]
(2) what is the total sum of bids made in this year's bidding round for expenditure on local authority capital transport schemes for each of the next three years. [20564]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe information requested by the hon. Member has been placed in the Library. Total bids for 1998–99 amount to £1.69 billion. Under the TPP system bids are invited for one year's expenditure at a time. In this year's round local authorities have therefore not been asked to bid further ahead than 1998–99. They36W may quote forecasts of expenditure on major projects for later years, but these figures are generally no more than a guide.