‘Upbeat’ transport secretary plays down budget fears

05 November 2009

Predictions of huge cuts to the country’s transport budget have been played down by the secretary of state.

Appearing before the transport select committee this week, Lord Adonis was upbeat about his department’s prospects, based on the negotiations held with HM Treasury officials so far.

Although his evidence was couched with a health warning that he could not predict the outcome of the next Comprehensive Spending Review, Lord Adonis played down predictions of budget cuts.

He told the committee: ‘I’m in the happy position not to be able to indicate any reductions. We are working with the Treasury to find savings.’

The secretary of state, who cannot be questioned by MPs because he is a peer, also told the committee that part of the criteria for major road and rail infrastructure projects being given the go ahead was their importance to hard-hit regional economies.

But chairwoman, Louise Ellman, asked: ‘Have you been consulted on proposals for reductions in transport budgets?’

Lord Adonis explained the current negotiations were focused around more sophisticated solutions than blanket cuts in the department’s budget.

‘We are looking intensively at whether it’s possible to get better value out of our spend. Whether it’s possible to do more for less. We’re looking at how we can improve our spend.’ he said.

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