Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to reintroduce funding for small transport projects, similar to the previous Pinch Points Fund that was announced prior to the pandemic but not completed.

In 2020 the government announced a £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund (LUF) to invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities, including local transport schemes across the UK. LUF superseded previous local growth funding streams in England and any local authority, including local highway authorities, Combined Authorities, and those in the Devolved nations, may bid into the fund.

In Round 1 of LUF, in October 2021, bids to the value of £1.69 billion were successful. The next round of grants are due to be awarded in autumn 2022. Further information on the Government’s plans for public spending will be set out in due course.