§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much public spending will be allocated to the Transport Direct telephone line; and where it will be based. [103373]
§ Mr. HillThe national public transport information system—the Government's White Paper commitment to an integrated system giving journey planning and timetable information over the telephone—is being funded by transport operators and local authorities. Government have provided Supplementary Credit Approvals to local authorities of £1 million in 1998–99 and £3.3 million in 1999–2000 to assist with the capital requirements of the project.
The public will be able to call a single telephone number for routes and timetables for bus, train, coach, metro, tram and ferry. The service is expected to be introduced progressively throughout Great Britain during 2000.
A possible development for the longer term is the availability of tickets by telephone for multi-modal journeys. No decisions on that option have yet been taken.