To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue was generated from fines resulting from speed camera convictions in Cambridgeshire in the latest year for which figures are available; and what sums were passed to (a) the Consolidated Fund and (b) the Cambridgeshire Safety Camera Partnership. (114842)

The audit certificate for the Cambridgeshire Safety Camera Partnership for the financial year shows that fines from the conditional offer of fixed penalties for offences detected by speed cameras during 2004-05 was £1,196,460. The amount returned to the partnership to improve road safety within the Cambridgeshire area for the same period via the netting-off process was £1,021,261 (85.4 percent).

In accordance with the handbook of rules and guidance for the national safety camera programme the surplus of £175,199 is retained by the consolidated fund.

The audit certificates for 2005-06 will be available on the DfT website very shortly.

The ‘netting-off’ funding arrangement for safety cameras is being ended after 2006-07 and from 2007-08 safety cameras and their funding are to be integrated into the Local Transport Plan system (in England outside London) alongside other road safety measures.

This will give greater flexibility to local authorities, the police and the other agencies to pursue whichever locally agreed mix of road safety measures will make the greatest contribution to reducing road casualties in their area. It will also provide greater financial stability and facilitate long-term planning.