§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funds have been provided by his Department for the Sustrans UK project; and if he will make a statement. [50726]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Department welcomes the contribution the National Cycle Network can make to encouraging people to cycle. In addition to the £43.5m Sustrans received from the Millennium Commission the Department has undertaken to fund the crossings on the trunk road network where this is appropriate.
The Highways Agency is committed to spending around £7.8m on cycle schemes across England's trunk road network. A rolling programme of around 60 crossings are being targeted for completion by the year 2000. In most cases the Highways Agency is working in partnership with local authorities, cycling groups and Sustrans to identify the right schemes.