Written question asked by Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 1 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 December 2003. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Monday, 8 December 2003 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much the Government has spent on UK port infrastructure in each of the past 10 years; what estimates have been made of future expenditure; and what steps are being taken to increase capacity. - Inc table.

Answer: Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government has spent on UK port infrastructure in each of the past 10 years; what estimates have been made of future expenditure; and what steps are being taken to increase capacity. [141912] Mr. Jamieson: My Department has awarded the following freight infrastructure grants to ports over the last 10 years, including Strategic Rail Authority grants awarded for rail infrastructure projects at ports in England and Wales. Freight grants awarded by the Scottish Executive is a matter for the Scottish Parliament. DfT freight infrastructure grants to ports 1993-94 to 2002-03 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. £ million 2002-031 7.8 2001-022 11.6 2000-01 16.0 1999-2000 1.4 1998-99 0.7 1997-98 2.9 1993-94 to 1996-97 nil _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Includes Freight Facilities Grants awarded in 2002 2 Includes Freight Facilities Grants awarded in 2001. Information on future spending on UK port infrastructure is not available. The Government do not initiate proposals for port development and considers applications from the ports themselves as and when they are submitted.

Secondary information