§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish guidance for local authorities on the preparation of full local transport plans. [116684]
§ Mr. HillI am today issuing "Guidance on Full Local Transport Plans", which contains advice for local authorities on the preparations of their local transport plans for 2001–02 to 2005–06.
Local transport plans are at the heart of our new deal for integrated transport, central to giving people improved travel choices, safer roads and better transport services. We are giving authorities more resources and more freedom to produce the best possible plans. We will be spending more than £750 million in the coming financial year, and more than £1 billion the following year. This reflects our commitment to supporting local solutions and initiatives.
This summer the Government will publish their 10-year transport plan, a framework for investment over the next decade. Local authorities will play an important role in delivering that plan, and in the guidance issued today we are asking them for additional investment proposals for an integrated transport strategy over the next 10-years.