MULHOLLAND CHALLENGES GOVERNMENT OVER TRANSPORT FUNDING IN WEST YORKSHIRE
February 14, 2006 12:00 AM
Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, today challenged the Secretary of State Alistair Darling over the ever-increasing funding gap between Transport in London compared with Yorkshire and the Humber during Transport Oral Questions.
Mr Mulholland asked the Secretary of State to make to make a statement about future funding for tram and light rail schemes. He then went on to call the Government's regional economic policy a 'sham' in light of figures from HM Treasury indicating that the Government spent an incredible £1,578 billion more on local public transport in London than in Yorkshire and Humberside. Mr Mulholland attacked the Government for failing to deliver on public transport over the past eight years, contributing to the ever-increasing North/South public transport divide.
Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman replied to Mr Mulholland's question about the lack of funding for transport schemes outside of London by citing a successful scheme implemented in London.
Commenting, Greg Mulholland said:
"The fact that the Minister failed to answer my question and referred to yet another successful transport scheme in London, just serves to highlight this Government's completely biased priorities. The Government's incompetent transport policy merely seeks to better the already good public transport system in London, at the detriment of regions such as West Yorkshire. This Government has consistently failed to deliver in the regions, ensuring that the great North/South divide has continued to widen into the 21st Century.
"Leeds is the largest city in Europe without a light rail or underground system. One of the main burdens on the growth of UK city region economies such as Leeds, is the shortcomings of public transport networks, so without a decent alternative to Supertram, Leeds will be at a permanent disadvantage."
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