To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps he has taken to improve (a) bicycle, (b) lorry and (c) car parking provision; and how much his Department has spent on such provision in each year since 1997. (302799)

The Department for Transport (DfT) allocates integrated transport block and highways maintenance funding to local transport authorities for capital investment in transport. Funding provided by the Department to local authorities is not generally ring-fenced and local authorities have discretion to spend their allocations in line with their priorities, such as the provision of improved cycle, lorry and car parking.

Total allocations provided to English local transport authorities (outside London) since 1997 are shown in the following table.

Revenue expenditure on transport is generally supported through the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Formula Grant.

In addition to this funding, the Government have made some funding available specifically to improve the provision of cycle parking. In 2009-10 and 2010-11, a total of £14 million is being provided by the Department to improve cycle facilities at rail stations, including the provision of 10,000 extra cycle parking spaces. A further £62.7 million has been committed between 2005-06 and 2010-11 to provide cycling infrastructure in 17 English towns and cities, as part of the Department’s Cycling Towns initiative.

The Department published a new action plan to improve lorry parking in England on 24 November 2009, available at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/road

The action plan will help to raise standards at existing truck stops and tackle shortages of lorry parking facilities but retains the principle that the financing and delivery of lorry parking is for the private sector. DfT Circular 01/2008 on Policy on Service Areas and Other Roadside Facilities on Motorways and All-Purpose Trunk Roads in England includes information on the role that the Highways Agency has in lorry parking.