§ 21. Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to fund new tramway and light railway systems. [116164]
§ Mr. HillWe believe that light rail can have an important role to play in delivering integrated transport in major conurbations. Decisions on whether to provide Central Government support for light rail systems are taken on a case-by-case basis on the merits of the particular scheme. Where systems cannot be funded entirely from local sources or by the private sector, promoters must demonstrate that their scheme provides good value for money, forms an essential part of a local transport plan, and that the objectives of that plan cannot be met in better ways.