§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funds he is providing to enable local councils to make pavements accessible by wheelchairs in(a) England and (b) Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement. [64444]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have been asked to reply.
Apart from major local transport schemes (those with a gross cost exceeding £5 million) local transport capital allocations are provided to English local authorities outside London in the form of a single block allocation the use of which is at their discretion. Such allocations can be used to make pavements accessible to wheelchair users. It is for local authorities to determine their local priorities.
For 2002–03, Gloucestershire county council has been provided with a single block allocation of £16.489 million from within a total allocation for England of £1.2 billion.
Our Ten Year Transport Plan reiterated our commitment to transport that is accessible to disabled people. It made clear that building in accessibility for disabled people in all new investment is a condition of public money being provided.