§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to ensure the sustainability of individual rural transport partnership schemes in the light of the 10-year transport plan; and if she will make a statement. [127764]
§ Alun MichaelThe Rural Transport Partnership programme is run by the Countryside Agency, on behalf of Defra in order to demonstrate ways of providing flexible transport in rural communities. It provides start up funding for up to three years to community based rural transport initiatives to help them develop and implement their plans. It is additional to and outside the312W mainstream of the long-term investment framework for transport set out in the Government's 10-Year Plan. We are awaiting the Agency's evaluation of the Rural Transport Partnership scheme and will consider its future in the light of this evaluation and the review of rural delivery by my noble Friend Lord Haskins.