§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money Sefton council received on transference of ownership of the A565 from the Highways Agency; and how much it will receive on an annual basis. [148928]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Highways Agency has a programme for handing over responsibility (known as detrunking) for the A565 trunk road to Sefton borough council on 1 April 2004. The statutory process to enable detrunking to proceed is currently ongoing, and includes negotiations with the council. A Grant, calculated to be in the region of £600,000, will be awarded based on a formula for maintenance expenditure. This Grant, uprated for inflation, will be paid in the 2004–05 financial year and will continue until detrunked roads are included in the Highways Maintenance Formula Spending Share.