§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to reduce the current disparity in the funding of Welsh transport grants between urban and rural Wales; and if he will make a statement. [13171]
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§ Mr. HainAll local authorities in Wales are invited to bid for transport grant and each scheme submitted is assessed on its merits against the grant criteria. I will ensure that all projects submitted by rural authorities are given fair consideration against these criteria.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to include economic development effects within cost-benefit analyses when awarding transport grants in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [13174]
§ Mr. HainEconomic development effects do not form part of the standard cost-benefit analyses used to assess road schemes. However, they form part of the wider Transport Grant criteria upon which projects are assessed.