---

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Jim Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to spend the additional resources allocated to transport in the Budget; and if he will make a statement. [116355] Mr. Prescott: Following the announcement in the Budget of an extra £280 million for transport spending in the UK, I intend to make the following allocations in England: £15 million for preparatory work on the £500 million extensions to the Manchester Metrolink, in accordance with the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) on 22 March 2000, Official Report, column 549W. £30 million as a contribution to the cost of extending the Docklands Light Railway to the City Airport, subject to statutory procedures. £65 million to enable London Underground to enhance provision for escalator work and customer services across the network and improve overall frequency and reliability on the Northern, Central, District and Jubilee lines. We are also reviewing the investment programme for the core Underground to ensure it represents best value. £14 million to abolish charges for bus passes for pensioners, so that they will not have to pay for a pass entitling them to bus travel at a maximum half fare under the provision in the Transport Bill. £5 million extra for 20 new innovative bus schemes in rural areas. £5 million to support child road safety education and information. £30 million for local authorities to spend on schemes for child safety and safe routes to school, and small scale improvements including bus priority measures. £3 million for preparatory work on four new road schemes (upgrading the A74 north of Carlisle to motorway standard, a bypass for Thorney on the A47 and dualling two sections of the A11 in Norfolk and Suffolk), subject to statutory procedures. £20 million for 80 new schemes for safety and congestion stress points and other improvements on the trunk road network. £16 million for a hold-up warning system to reduce accidents on our most congested sections of motorway. £25 million to fund the acceleration of six road schemes already being progressed in the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements. £2 million for integrated transport projects applying new technology to public transport ticketing and improved traffic management in towns. £5 million for local authorities to improve telephone information for passengers on local transport services. £9 million to support the Powershift programme to promote cleaner fuel vehicles. £6 million for cleaning up existing diesel buses and taxis in cities.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

116355; 346 c702-3W;346 c700-1W

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Children Bus services Accidents Concessions Fares Finance Exhaust emissions Older people Public transport London Underground Travel Transport Safety Safety measures Roads Rural areas Urban areas Docklands Light Railway Manchester Metrolink Escalators

Contains statistics

Yes