TRANSPORT MINISTER REINFORCES GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO FINDING TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS FOR THE SOUTH EAST

TRANSPORT IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S AGENDA FOR A PROSPEROUS AND SOCIALLY JUST SOCIETY. This was the message from David Jamieson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, when he delivered the keynote speech at the 2nd Regional Transport Forum held in Winchester.

The Conference, entitled "Delivering the Region's Transport Strategy", was jointly hosted by the South East England Regional Assembly, the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

David Jamieson MP said: "A reliable, safe and integrated transport system is central to achieving a better quality of life, a strong economy and a better environment. That is why transport is one of the Government's top priorities."

"The Government gave their long-term commitment to modernising the country's transport systems in the Ten Year Plan published in summer 2000. In this document, we set out the improvements, which we wanted to make: reducing road congestion and pollution; increasing the frequency and reliability of public transport and improving the condition of local roads. These improvements are important to us and vital to the local people they affect."

David Jamieson then went on to highlight the improvements, which have been made to the transport system in the South East since the publication of the Ten Year Plan and those which have been announced as part of the Strategic Rail Plan. These include:

• 1,700 new rail coaches in the region within three years;
• The completion of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link;
• The provision of £400 million to the Rail Performance Fund and £430 to the Rail Passenger Partnership to spend on improvements to services.

Mr Jamieson continued: "The South East region is one of the UK's busiest and most important transport networks. It is therefore vital that significant improvements are made to the road and rail infrastructure to enable the region's considerable prosperity to continue."

David Brooks-Wilson, CBI representative on the Assembly and Vice-chair of the Regional Planning Committee, said: "The Regional Assembly is very pleased that the Minister recognises that the South East's transport system is so important to the national transport network. We are the primary gateway into the country and therefore vital to the nation's transport links with Europe and the rest of the world. However, Government needs to translate this recognition into action. The South East, as a region, needs to make its case for greater transport investment heard by Government so that we can get our priorities right and deliver the transport solutions the region so desperately needs."

Janis Kong, SEEDA Board Member and Executive Chairman of BAA Heathrow said: "I was pleased to have the opportunity to let the minister know of the anxieties of the business community about the transport problems of the region. I was greatly encouraged by the many positive and helpful ideas for solving those problems which came forward during the course of the conference."

The conference was attended by over 160 representatives from the business community, local authorities, transport providers and social and environmental partners.

Contact

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Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007