---

Light Rail

: I will not, if the hon. Gentleman does not mind, as time is limited. Through the transport innovation fund, we have undertaken to provide support for such innovative packages of measure. Those packages should combine demand management and better public transport, which might include light rail in some cases. The funding will be available from 2008–09, and on Monday my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced seven areas that have been successful in securing pump-priming funding to help with the development of schemes. They include Greater Manchester, which will assess the potential for demand management measures to complement its tram extension proposals. The existing Manchester Metrolink has been a success. The first phase opened in 1992, and the second in 2000. Today it carries more than 19 million passengers a year, and there are times when it suffers from overcrowding. I am in no doubt that the system has helped in Manchester's economic success, and that improvements to the system are worth making. The plans for extensions to the system were dogged by cost increases, as I said earlier. Last year, the Department worked closely with the Manchester authorities to understand what the proposals would now cost. In December 2004, the Secretary of State announced that he was committing more than £500 million—the sum previously agreed for funding phase 3—to Manchester's transport network. Manchester could also bid for additional funds from the new transport innovation fund. In June, I went to Manchester and announced that the Government were committing £58 million to enhancing capacity and refurbishing parts of the existing system. We are continuing to work with the Greater Manchester passenger transport executive to finalise details of the scheme. As my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley, said, we are still discussing those proposals with it. We will be in a position to say something about that when those discussions are completed. The Department is also in discussion with the PTE about its strategy for extensions to the system as part of an integrated transport package for the area. That includes the extension to Oldham and Rochdale. The GMPTE has given us an integrated transport strategy document as a basis for dialogue on a transport innovation fund bid that would incorporate the extensions and other measures. Discussions are at an early stage, and we are working closely with the PTE to take them forward. We will continue to support tram schemes if they are the right solution for a particular area, and if their costs can be justified by bringing wider benefits. Certainly, we expect to fund some light rail schemes in future, but only as part of an integrated approach, to maximise the benefits.