To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2008, Official Report, column 23W, on roads: Lancashire, how many meetings his officials have held with Lancashire county council officials about work supported by a road safety partnership grant not specific to the A59; where those meetings were held; and what decisions were made at those meetings. (260663)

The Department for Transport (DFT) awarded Lancashire county council a Road Safety Partnership Grant of £15,000 in May 2007 for the purpose of developing a web-based interactive road safety auditor’s checklist, for use across the country.

Relating to this, a DFT officer has met with Lancashire county council officers six times to monitor progress and to advise about the project. These meetings were held in Lancashire county council’s offices in Preston.

The award of a further partnership grant project involving Lancashire county council was announced on 4 March. There have been no meetings between officials and those of the county council about this work since it has been supported by partnership grant. However officials have met during the formulation of Lancashire’s bid for funding support.