§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on funding of the Great Leighs bypass. [25292]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonEssex County Council bid for support for this scheme in their Transport Policies and Programme (TPP) submission for 1998–99. Because of financial constraints no new major schemes were accepted in the 1998–99 local transport capital settlement, which was announced on 17 December 1997.
The guidance for the TPP round of 1999–2000 is due to be published in the Spring. My Department is currently considering the headings under which bids will be invited. It is not possible at this stage to say how much weight will be given to major road schemes such as Great Leighs Bypass.