Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Active Travel

Thursday 8 June 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial assessments highlight the importance of active travel funding for environmental and health benefits.
  • Active travel funding has reached North Devon, with plans for a further capital funding round later in the year.
  • Government responses emphasize the use of multiple funding pots to support active travel initiatives.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Transport Environment
Context

The question concerns the assessment of how changes in funding for active travel have affected its uptake, with specific interest in environmental and health benefits.

Question

What assessment has been made of the impact of changes to funding for active travel on levels of uptake? People walking, wheeling and cycling saved 2.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and avoided more than 29,000 early deaths in 2021. However, only a fifth of total active travel spending comes from dedicated funding, with the rest coming from various pots that are not guaranteed.

Answer from Jesse Norman

The hon. Lady highlights the importance of supporting active travel, as the Government have—more so than any previous Government. There are a range of pots including city region sustainable transport settlements, road investment strategy 2 and levelling-up fund moneys into which authorities can bid.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specifically address how the government guarantees funding is spent on active travel.

How: Highlighting Importance Of Supporting Active Travel Without Addressing Specific Guarantee Mechanisms

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Q2 Selaine Saxby
Transport
Context

The question concerns the completion of a section of the Tarka Trail, an active travel project in North Devon. The funding constraints have limited immediate full completion.

Question

I am delighted that active travel funding has reached North Devon and that part of the missing link of the Tarka trail will be completed. However, time constraints on when the funding needs to be spent mean that Devon County Council is not yet able to complete the whole stretch. When will further funding rounds be available?

Answer from Jesse Norman

I congratulate my hon. Friend who rightly says it is great that North Devon has benefited from £1.8 million through active travel fund 4. Active Travel England plans to run a further capital funding round later this year and will work with local authorities including those in rural areas, to encourage bids for schemes that have high potential.

Answered
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Q3 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Transport Environment
Context

The question concerns the guarantee that money from various funding sources is spent on active travel, given only a fifth comes from dedicated funds.

Question

People walking, wheeling and cycling saved 2.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and avoided more than 29,000 early deaths in 2021. However, only a fifth of total active travel spending comes from dedicated funding, with the rest coming from various pots that are not guaranteed. With such a low proportion of ringfenced funding, how can the Government guarantee that this money is really spent on active travel?

Answer from Jesse Norman

The hon. Lady highlights the importance of supporting active travel, as the Government have—more so than any previous Government. There are a range of pots including city region sustainable transport settlements, road investment strategy 2 and levelling-up fund moneys into which authorities can bid.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specifics on how the government guarantees funding for active travel from various pots.

How: Highlighting Importance Of Supporting Active Travel Without Addressing Specific Guarantee Mechanisms

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Q4 Gill Furniss Lab Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
Transport
Context

The question concerns the Government's progress in meeting four targets set to measure active travel uptake, highlighting a cut to active travel funding of £166 million by the National Audit Office.

Question

May I associate myself with the condolences that have been sent to those in India? In 2021, Ministers set themselves four targets to measure progress in active travel uptake. Three years on, how many of these targets are they confident of meeting? The NAO report also uncovered a staggering cut to active travel funding of £166 million, which by the Government's own workings would cost the taxpayer more than £700 million in the long run. Will the Minister finally come clean and confirm whether he will be slashing this vital funding by 60% next year?

Answer from Jesse Norman

The hon. Lady highlights efficiency savings made across the board as a result of the illegal war in Ukraine. The report reflects the fact that the Government set highly ambitious targets which have always been known and understood to be testing. One great advantage of Active Travel England is driving better value for money.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not confirm whether funding will be slashed by 60% next year.

How: Mentioning Efficiency Savings Made Due To The War In Ukraine Without Addressing Specific Funding Cuts

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