Written question asked by Lord Austin of Dudley (Labour) on Monday, 8 November 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 November 2010. It was answered by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 22 November 2010 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Cycling England

Question: (2) what assessment he has made of the value for money of the work of Cycling England.

Answer: Cycling England was established in 2005 with a remit to ““Get More People Cycling, More Safely, More Often””. Over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11, the Department for Transport (DfT) invested around £140 million in programmes to deliver this objective. Cycling England's role was to advise on how best to spend these funds and to oversee the delivery of the projects.Analysis of results of the first three years of funding, of which DfT contributed £7.5 million, for the initial six Cycling Demonstration Towns has provided a Benefit Cost Ratio in the range 2.6 to 3.5, and a 27% increase, in cycle trips as shown by automatic cycle counters.Current programmes continue to the end of March 2011 and are yet to be evaluated.

Secondary information