Massive variations in transport investment between different local authorities - Carmichael

3.04.31pm GMT Tue 14th Mar 2006

New figures released by the Liberal Democrats show massive discrepancies in transport investment per person between English local authorities. Twenty-one authorities have received less than £150 per resident to invest in transport improvements over the last eight years.

Worst off are the residents of Slough who have received little over a third of the national average and nearly five times less (£9.88 per year per person) than those of Shropshire (£44.75 per year per person).

Commenting on these figures, Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, said "Local areas must be allowed far greater control over decisions relating to improvements in transport. This must extend to decisions on transport investment.

"I will be seeking clarification from the Transport Secretary as to why there has been such a wide variation in spending per head, and whether it can be justified against noticeable improvements in transport.

"If I lived in one of the areas at the bottom of the list I would wonder what whim of Alistair Darling's means that we don't deserve local transport improvements."