§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many rural transport schemes have been funded by the Government in each of the last five years, with the amounts given; and how many have been earmarked funding for the next two financial years, with the amounts given. [112822]
§ Alun Michael[pursuant to his reply, 13 May 2003, c. 150W.] The figures provided for the Rural Transport Partnership and Parish Transport Grant for the period 2001–02 and 2002–03 were funds allocated to these programmes, as opposed to amounts spent. I have amended my answer in the following table. In addition, the Countryside Agency also spent £2.7 million over the period 2001–02 to 2002–03 promoting the Rural Transport Partnership and developing guidance. £1.3 million was spent over the same period on promoting and developing guidance for the Parish Transport Grant. The rest of the answer remains correct. 701W
Rural Transport Development Fund Rural Transport Partnership1 Parish Transport Grant Rural Bus Challenge2 Year Number Funding (£million) Number Funding (£million) Number Funding (£million) Number Funding (£million) 1998–99 n/a 1.6 n/a 4.2 — — 46 11.2 1999–2000 n/a 1.6 n/a 4.2 — — 58 16.8 2000–01 n/a 1.6 n/a 4.2 — — 51 21.2 2001–02 — — 278 7.1 40 0.4 58 20.5 2002–03 — — 350 13.2 116 0.9 46 20.2 2003–04 — — 3350 312.0 3200 8.0 4— 4— 2004–05 — — 3350 312.0 3300 7.0 4— 4— 1 Prior to 2001–02 this was called the Rural Transport Partnership Scheme. 2 The Rural Bus Challenge is an annual competition and the level of funding refers to the total award granted to successful bids. 3 Budget and project targets in the Countryside Agency Business Plan. 4 DfT will announce a further round of the Challenge fund later this year.