§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the Local Transport Plan budget for Newcastle City in(a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04; what the spending was in 2001–02; whether spending is likely to be reached in 2002–03; and what action was taken over underspending. [89105]
§ Mr. JamiesonCapital funding for local transport is provided by Government in two main ways: for maintenance and schemes costing below £5 million, as a block of funds over which local authorities have discretion; and for major schemes costing over £5million, as scheme-specific funding. In recent years, up to and including 2001–02, authorities had permission to carry over their 'block' funds from one financial year to the next.
Newcastle city council were provided with the following allocations:
- (a) £36.479 million in respect of maintenance and schemes costing below £5 million; and £5.159 million for major schemes.
- (b) £5.992 million in respect of maintenance and schemes costing below £5 million; and £6.738 million for major schemes.
- (c) £5.055 million in respect of maintenance and schemes costing below £5 million; and £1.400 million for major schemes.
In 2001–02, £3.938 million was spent on maintenance and schemes costing below £5 million; and £3.210 million was spent on major schemes. Newcastle city council have taken advantage of the flexibility available to carry funds forward into 2002–03 and plan to spend their full allocation in the current year. Outturn spending figures for 2002–03 will be available in July 2003. Ministers have made clear to all transport authorities the importance of having effective spending programmes and of making progress towards the targets and objectives set out in their local transport plans.