§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport why the Victoria place road scheme in Stoke-on-Trent was not included in the 1988–89 transport supplementary grant settlement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyVictoria place link, Stoke-on-Trent, was included in Staffordshire's transport policies and programme submission for 1988–89. It was not 267W selected for transport supplementary grant support since the main works were not programmed to start until 1989–90. TSG funds are limited and grant is usually restricted to schemes already under construction or whose main works are due to start in that financial year.
Victoria place link was Staffordshire's third priority for TSG; its first two have been given grant aid. If put forward again next year with sufficient priority, the scheme will he considered on its merits in competition with schemes from other authorities for the funds available.