HC Deb 17 December 1997 vol 303 cc198-9W
Ms Kingham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will announce the allocation of capital resources for expenditure on local transport infrastructure in 1998–99. [21611]

Dr. Strang

This year a total of £623 million is to be allocated to local highway authorities and passenger transport authorities in England for capital expenditure on their transport infrastructure in 1998–99. This consists of £155 million in transport supplementary grant (TSG), £40 million for Croydon Tramlink and around £427 million in annual capital guideline (ACG), supplementary credit approval (SCA), grant under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 and grant under section 13 of the Industrial Development Act 1982.

In this year's settlement I am allocating resources to 10 new packages, of transport measures in addition to the 61 packages which are already being funded. A further six authorities will receive allocations to pursue specific measures in packages that are not yet ready for full acceptance. The total allocated to packages is increased by £6 million to £85 million. The West Midlands metropolitan package will enjoy a rise of £1.175 million to allow accelerated progress on its bus-based strategy. The Avon package sees an increase of £1 million to deliver integrated transport measures in the Bristol, Bath and Weston-super-Mare areas.

In addition to increased funding for multi-modal packages in 1998–99 we are raising the allocations for cross boundary projects in London which we judge to be the way to promote alternatives to the car in the capital. Support for the London Bus Priority Network rises by £2 million to £11 million, and the London Cycle Network gains a further £1 million to reach £5 million, £40 million goes to Croydon's Tramlink project now in progress.

In Manchester £7.2 million is allocated to help with rebuilding the city centre following the IRA bombing.

In a year of tight budgetary pressures these initiatives confirm the Government's resolve to pursue integrated transport policies which will reduce traffic by promoting sustainable alternatives to the private car.

Safety is of primary importance. The £50 million allocated for improvements in locations with a poor accident record will keep up the momentum in the drive to meet current casualty reduction targets. The extra resources for transport packages will enhance safety even further by reducing traffic, calming that which remains, and furnishing better facilities for cycling, walking and public transport.

A sum of £180 million is being allocated for the structural maintenance of principal roads, and the assessment, strengthening and structural maintenance of bridges.

The allocation for major schemes already being supported is £280 million in 1998–99.

Table 1 sets out the national totals for different types of expenditure. Table 2 shows the total amounts of grant, credit approvals and gross approved expenditure for each of the 149 local highway authorities, and the 6 passenger transport authorities. The Government Offices for the Regions are notifying them today of their allocations. Table 3 lists the allocations to transport packages. Copies of the tables have been placed in the Library.