§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to announce the designation of Centres of Excellence for Integrated Transport Planning. [154899]
§ Mr. HillWe are today designating 14 Centres of Excellence for Integrated Transport Planning.
The Centre of Excellence initiative is aimed at recognising the efforts of local authorities in taking forward the planning of integrated transport at the local level and reflects the importance of spreading good practice.
invited bids from all transport authorities in England (outside London). Having assessed the bids received we have awarded the following local transport authorities or groups of authorities Centre of Excellence status for the period covered by their current local transport plans:
- Bristol city council
- Devon county council
- Hampshire county council
- Hertfordshire county council
- Nottingham city council
- Nottinghamshire county council
256W - Oxfordshire county council
- Surrey county council
- Warrington borough council
- City of York council
- Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and the metropolitan district councils in the Greater Manchester area
- Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and the metropolitan district councils in the Merseyside area
- South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and the metropolitan district councils in the South Yorkshire area
- West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and the metropolitan district councils in the West Yorkshire area.
My Department has also today published "Transport 2010: Meeting the Local Transport Challenge" which sets out how the local transport settlement announced on 14 December 2000, Official Report, column 202W, contributes to the achievement of our local transport objectives established in "Transport 2010: The 10 Year Transport Plan".
Copies of the document have been placed in the Library of both Houses and are available from the Vote Office.