Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring local authorities to undertake local consultations before allocating funding through his Department's active travel schemes.

Local authorities already have a statutory requirement to consult on all highways schemes, including for active travel, in line with existing legislation such as the Equality Act (2010) and Road Traffic Regulation Act (1984). Additionally, Active Travel Fund guidance is clear that all schemes must be developed in consultation with local communities to enable a range of views to be considered and given due regard.