Trams: Nottingham

Mr. Allen
13. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on approving the next tram line in Nottingham.

Mr. Tom Harris
In October 2006 the Secretary of State announced that he was granting programme entry, for funding purposes, to Phase 2 of the system. In April 2007, Nottinghamshire county council and Nottingham city council applied for the Transport and Works Act powers required to construct and operate the system. I cannot comment on the merits of that application, in order not to prejudice the Secretary of State's fair and impartial consideration of it.