§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the total cost of new road projects authorised by him since 1 May 1997 in(a) Devon and (b) Cornwall. [40834]
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§ Ms Glenda JacksonMy Department has not accepted any major new road local authority road schemes for funding in either Devon or Cornwall since 1 May 1997. It is open to authorities to fund minor new road projects (those costing up to £2 million) using the resources allocated to them for transport packages. Information on the use they are making of these resources will not be available until they submit their Transport Policies and Programme bids in July. All resources allocated for local safety schemes are for use on road improvements at locations where there is a record of accidents. The following table summarises allocations made to councils in the Devon and Cornwall areas under those headings as part of the local transport capital settlement for 1998–99:
Authority Minor works: transport packages Minor works: local safety schemes Total allocation: minor works Devon 800 414 1,214 Torbay1 0 62 62 Plymouth1 750 201 951 Cornwall 500 494 994 Totals 2,050 1,171 3,221 1 Unitary authorities within the Devon county area. No new road schemes have been authorised in the national roads programme in Devon or Cornwall since 1 May 1997.