Oral Answers to Questions

Brandon Lewis Excerpts

Thursday 19th April 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Villiers]

The shadow Secretary of State refers to the proposal from London Midland, which is being considered but on which no final decision has been made.

[Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth) (Con)]

9. What discussions her Department has had with local authorities on the devolution of funding for major local transport schemes.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Norman Baker)]

My Department has held discussions with a number of local authorities before and during the consultation period on the devolution of funding for local major transport schemes. The formal consultation exercise closed on 2 April and we are now reviewing the responses. We will publish our firm proposals later in the year.

[Brandon Lewis]

Does the Minister agree that devolving funding for major local transport schemes, such as improvements to the A47 in Norfolk, will give local communities more say on what they need, particularly by using local enterprise partnerships and bringing together businesses and local authorities with a clear understanding and focus on what is needed to achieve economic growth from infrastructure investment?

[Norman Baker]

Yes, we agree that it is a good idea that local communities have more say in such matters, as my hon. Friend says. I am happy to say that my ministerial colleague, my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), will shortly invite him, other local MPs and interested parties to discuss relative priorities for the A47.