WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in respect of the funding of the Mersey Ferries; if he will consider giving direct financial aid; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe director general of the Merseyside passenger transport executive wrote to the Department of Transport on 21 July and 31 August 1989 with details of a project for developing the Mersey Ferries as a leisure facility, and the passenger transport authority also asked for this project to be taken into account in the determination of its annual capital guideline. The Department replied to the PTE on 9 October raising various questions on the project. We have received no representations since then. We would consider any application for direct financial assistance on its merits, in accordance with our normal criteria for grant for public transport projects.