§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate the grounds on which his Department has refused to accept for transport supplementary grant in 1988–89 the Cambridge park and ride scheme proposed by Cambridgeshire county council and Cambridge city council; what alternative proposals for relieving congestion will attract support from his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTSG is intended to support capital improvements and traffic management measures on local roads which carry substantial flows of longer distance through traffic. The benefits from a park-and-ride scheme would be local in character. The scheme did not satisfy the criteria for TSG which are set out in the Department's circular 1/87; there is a copy in the Library. The responsibility for relieving local congestion rests with the local authorities to whom rate support grant is available.