§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the breakdown was by region of(a) freight facilities grants and (b) track access grants in the most recent available year; and if he will make a statement. [15313]
It is not possible to allocate track access grants to specific regions since the grant aided traffic traverses more than one region and, in one case, all regions. Awards of track access grant are paid over a number of years; in 1996–97 £12.3 million was paid to five claimants.
The Government are committed to encouraging greater take-up of grants from all regions.
§ Ms Glenda JacksonIn the 1996–97 financial year seven rail and one inland waterways freight facilities grants were awarded in England:
Region Number of awards Value of awards £ East Midlands 2 (rail) 1,335,472 Yorkshire and Humber 2 (rail) 509,787 North West 1 (rail) 230,805 North East 1 (rail) 402,029 London 1 (rail) 1,904,032 South East 1 (Inland Waterways grant) 47,338