Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for future investment in the (a) West Sussex and (b) Mid Sussex transport network. [164342]

Norman Baker, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport: As part of the recent 2013 spending round announcement Government set out plans for a significant package of investment in transport. This included a commitment to provide almost £6 billion for local highways maintenance which will be available to local highway authorities in England, including West Sussex county council over the period from 2015-16 to 2020-21. In addition funding of £458 million per annum was also confirmed to support small scale transport improvements through the integrated transport block from 2015-16 to 2020-21 of which £200 million per annum will be top sliced and put into the Local Growth Fund.

The 2013 spending round announcement also included a commitment to fund improvements to the A27 at Chichester and to develop and fund managed motorway proposals on the M23 between junctions 8 and 10 near Gatwick, subject to value for money and deliverability.

In addition, Government undertook to identify and fund solutions to a number of the most notorious and longstanding road hotspots. This involves taking forward a range of feasibility studies to look at the problems, including looking at the A27 corridor on the south coast including at Arundel and Worthing.

This is alongside improvements that are planned at the A27 Ford Roundabout at Arundel, a scheme that was successful in the recent Highway Agency Pinch Point fund.

With regards rail, a £53 million enhancement scheme at Gatwick Airport Station will deliver two new platforms and operational improvements by the end of 2013.

The Government has also recently announced plans to devolve funding for local major transport schemes from 2015-16. The Coast to Capital Local Transport Body, which includes representatives from West Sussex County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), will shortly publish their prioritised list of local major transport schemes. West Sussex will also have the opportunity, as part of the LEP, to bid for further funding for transport through the Local Growth Fund.

Transport funding is not allocated directly to Shire district authorities such as Mid Sussex.

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