Cycling and Walking: Finance

Department for Transport written question – answered at on 1 December 2015.

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Photo of Roger Godsiff Roger Godsiff Labour, Birmingham, Hall Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ring-fence funding for walking and cycling.

Photo of Robert Goodwill Robert Goodwill Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is committed to the principle of devolution and decisions being made at the appropriate level. Local Authorities are responsible for local roads and are best placed to determine the need for cycling and walking infrastructure in their own areas. By not ring-fencing funding for cycling and walking, local authorities have the freedom and flexibility to choose how they spend their transport funding, including on cycling and walking, if they choose to do so. However, for spending for which the Government is responsible, in the five years 2011/12 to 2015/16 the Department has increased its spend on cycling in England from £1 per head to £3 per head, and more in the eight Cycle Ambition Cities.

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Annotations

Andrew Reeves-Hall
Posted on 5 Dec 2015 11:33 pm (Report this annotation)

Context would help for understanding the minister's figures. The Government's 'Get Britain Cycling' inquiry recommended spending of £10 rising to £20 per person per year. The Netherlands spends over £20 per person per year on cycling infrastructure.

Aside: Campaign group 'Stop Killing Cyclists' demands double the amount spent in The Netherlands so that the UK can catch up.