§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has received from local authorities covering the Maidenhead constituency on transport projects qualifying under the category of specific transport projects for which the Treasury recently allocated £500 million; [50849]
(2) when he expects to announce details of the allocation of the £500 million for specific transport projects recently announced by the Treasury. [50852]
§ Dr. StrangThe Budget included provision for an additional £500 million for public transport over the next three years.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced in the House on 20 March 1998, Official Report, columns 1539–42, that the Government would be providing London Transport with an additional £365 million over the next two years. At least £300 million of this is for investment in the core network, and it will boost investment over the next two years to £1 billion. London Transport announced the details of their Tube 2000 investment programme on 11 June.
New funding of £50 million per year for three years is being made available across the UK for public transport in rural areas. England's share of this is £41.7 million. A provisional allocation to local authorities of the additional support for rural bus services (£32.5m this financial year) was announced on 28 April. Detailed proposals in this connection were laid before the House on 17 June 1998, Official Report, column 206, including the allocation of £50,584 to Windsor and Maidenhead and £77,436 to Wokingham. As announced in my answer on 3 July 1998, Official Report, columns 285–86, we are now consulting on the arrangements for the £5 million Rural Bus Challenge competition which also forms part of this new money. Within the £50 million, £5 million has been set aside for community-based transport initiatives. In England, resources will be channelled through the Rural Development Commission. We are discussing with the Rural Development Commission how best to make use of these resources and have consulted the Local Government Association. An announcement will follow shortly.
No representations have been received from the local authorities covering the Maidenhead constituency on transport projects encompassed by the £500m provision.