§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what annual funding is made available to West Yorkshire passenger transport authority for operating trains in the Yorkshire area. [35485]
§ Mr. WattsA figure is set aside each year from within the all other services block of the revenue support grant for distribution to district councils in metropolitan counties to meet the cost of supporting local rail services. The West Yorkshire passenger transport authority levies the district councils in the WYPTA passenger transport area each year for funding to cover expenditure by the West Yorkshire passenger transport executive on securing such railway passenger services as the authority decides to be necessary. In addition, payments are made to the WYPTE under the terms of certain current deeds of assumption. The combined figure for 1996–97 is £51.18 million. This comprises £45.98 million by way of RSG and some £5.2 million under the terms of those deeds of assumption.