§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much has been given to UK companies in EU freight facilities grants in each of the last three years; and how many UK companies benefited in each year; [162994]
(2) what the criteria are for UK companies to qualify for EU freight facilities grants; [162995]
(3) for what purposes UK companies operating in Sussex have benefited from EU freight facilities grants in the last three years. [162996]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe freight facilities grant programme is a UK scheme rather than an EU one. But there are some EU programmes that have similar effect.
1162WUntil 2001 there was an EU programme called Pilot Actions for Combined Transport (PACT) which sought to encourage modal shift. Under this some UK companies received small amounts of funding for projects such as intermodal tracking systems and feasibility studies for projects. The Department does not have a detailed breakdown by amount received, company and year.
In 2003 the EU agreed a replacement measure called Marco Polo. This is designed to support "modal shift actions", i.e. measures to encourage the transfer of freight from road to more environmentally friendly modes of transport. In order to be eligible for funding projects should be submitted to the European Commission by a consortium of two or more undertakings established in at least two different member states. The Commission has recently completed its first call for expressions of interest but no money has yet been allocated.