Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has budgeted for initiatives to increase the number of journeys made on foot in each of the next five years.

Over the next five years, funding for transport infrastructure that benefits walkers will be provided via the Local Growth Fund. Local authorities can work with their Local Enterprise Partnerships to identify which transport schemes will most benefit their local communities, and it is expected that walking schemes will be included in these strategic plans. In addition to this, to support the ongoing promotion of sustainable transport, including walking, the Department for Transport has confirmed £64.5m in revenue funding for 2015/16. This funding has been awarded to 44 schemes, one of which (led by Durham County Council) is 100% focussed on walking. £114m has also been made available for the continuation of the Cycling Ambition Grant programme; all cities bidding for this funding needed to demonstrate how their proposed designs would benefit walkers as well as cyclists.

Local authorities are also welcome to participate in the Department’s School Award Scheme, operated by Modeshift. This scheme promotes walking and cycling to schools and is benefitting from £840,000 between 2014 and 2016.