Local Congestion: Investment

Lord Spicer Excerpts

Wednesday 10th January 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Sugg]

My Lords, much of the funding for local roads is paid directly to local authorities through the direct transport funding and the local growth fund. However, we recognise that local authorities do not always have enough money to tackle the large projects which are needed to improve productivity and reduce congestion. That is why we have a number of schemes to help local authorities pay for those, such as the major road network that I have just mentioned, the pinch-point scheme and the national productivity investment fund.

[Lord Spicer (Con)]

My Lords, ever since Quintin Hogg, as he then was, went north in his flat cap, money has poured into the north-east. At the same time, the north-east has remained one of the poorest areas in this country. Is there a question involved there somewhere?

[Baroness Sugg]

I am sorry: I missed the question. Perhaps my noble friend could repeat it.