§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what schemes have been funded through the Rural Transport Partnership scheme; and how much funding each scheme received. [143257]
§ Mr. HillThe Rural Transport Partnership (RTP) scheme was launched in the autumn of 1998 to address social exclusion by bringing about long-term transport improvements in rural areas. Grants of up to 75 per cent. of the eligible partnership and project costs are available up to a current maximum of £250,000.
A partnership is formed between relevant bodies in a particular area (e.g. local authorities, voluntary sector, health and employment bodies) to take a strategic view of the transport needs and provision of that area. Typically partnerships begin with the appointment of a partnership officer, who then conducts a transport needs analysis to produce an action plan of proposed projects for funding to address the needs identified. Once the partnership officer is appointed, a period of typically six months is needed to prepare the action plan for agreement with the Agency. Action plan projects require specific Agency approval and are listed in the table.
In addition each RTP can also draw down a delegated fund of £10,000 per year in each of the partnership years, for small scale, stand alone transport projects.
Although there are 71 RTPs set up to date, the table only covers 34, because the remaining 37 have been set up recently and are still developing their action plans.
There are also two national RTPs not covered in the table. They are the Community Transport Association's RTP, which has received £39,313 and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (Acorp) RTP. Acorp has received £27,810 to date. Both of these are national development projects to support community transport and rail activity. Rather than initiating their own schemes, these partnerships support projects promoted by others.
293W
Region and running total RTP name Projects funded to date Project start date Agency contribution 23 Tyne and Wear Transport Information February 2001 10,000 24 West Durham Midas Training November 2000 840 25 East Durham GP Car Service November 2000 1,556 East of England 26 Essex Community Transport November 2000 26,640 27 Essex Hospital Link November 2000 25,650 28 Essex Car Share March 2000 34,780 29 Cambridgeshire Dial a Ride October 2000 9,100 30 East Norfolk Flexi Bus September 2000 22,010 31 East Norfolk Community Transport November 2000 27,000 32 East Norfolk Flexi Bus August 2000 22,410 33 West Norfolk Market Bus August 2000 29,580 34 West Norfolk Flexi-Bus November 2000 12,600 35 West Norfolk Development Officer November 2000 — 36 Bedfordshire Link a Ride September 2000 26,320 37 Bedfordshire Travel Club November 2000 35,490 North West 38 North Lancashire Link Bus November 2000 9,000 39 Ribblesdale Rover November 2000 28,000 West Midlands 40 Herefordshire Community Transport June 2000 43,221 41 Herefordshire Green Transport Promotion May 2000 30,164 42 Herefordshire Wheels to Work December 2000 52,727 43 North Warwickshire Busy Beeline December 2000 15,064 44 North Warwickshire Wheels to Work January 2000 39,135 45 Telford and Wrekin Community Car, Wheels to Work July 2000 43,700 46 Telford and Wrekin Interchange Project April 2000 30,000 47 Telford and Wrekin Wrekin Rider July 2000 56,300 South West 48 Wiltshire Volunteer Link Drivers June 2000 26,000 49 Gloucestershire Jumpstart Jobsearcher April 2000 3,500 50 Gloucestershire Volunteer Drivers April 2000 5,600 51 Gloucestershire Drivers for the Elderly April 2000 20,000 52 Gloucestershire Transport Co-ordinators April 2000 10,000 53 Cornwall Wheels to Work April 2000 22,500 54 Dorset Leisure Bus April 2000 1,000 55 Dorset Scooters September 2000 14,000 East Midlands 56 Nottinghamshire Volunteer Driver Training November 2000 25,000 South East 57 North and mid-Hants Access to Services October 1999 696 58 North and mid-Hants Transport Co-ordination October 1999 13,447 59 South East Hants Transport Co-ordination October 1999 10,064 60 South West Hants Transport for Work October 1999 12,605 61 South West Hants Access to Services October 1999 2,440 62 South West Hants Transport Co-ordination October 1999 6,217 63 Cherwell Community Services October 1999 14,233 64 Information and Training October 1999 756 65 West Oxfordshire CT Directory October 1999 745 66 Mini-bus October 1999 421 67 Co-ordination October 1999 20 68 South Oxfordshire Info and Training October 1999 78 69 Access and Info October 1999 532 70 East Berkshire Train, Coach, Taxis August 1999 11,325 71 Integration August 1999 21,438 72 Bluebird CT Service April 2000 50,774 73 East Sussex Co-ordination November 1999 73,000
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions whom he plans to consult on plans to relax restrictions on rural community transport; and when the consultation will be completed. [143258]
294W
§ Mr. HillWe plan to consult representatives of all the bodies that have a role in the provision and regulation of community transport in rural areas, including Traffic Commissioners, the Community Transport Association, the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the 295W Countryside Agency. In addition we will place a copy of the consultation paper on the Department's website so that any other body and members of the public may contribute their views.
We expect the consultation to be completed next summer, to give adequate time for views to be submitted.