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TRANSPORT

Greater London Authority Transport Grant

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Derek Twigg): The Greater London Authority Transport Grant for 2006–07 has today been determined by the Secretary of State for Transport at £2,389 million, following consultation with the Mayor of London. This is a block grant provided by the Government to Transport for London to support and improve transport services in London, including London Underground. This grant determination is
 
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based on the Government's five-year settlement for TfL which was announced in July 2004, and includes the residual £6 million which is the Department's remaining share of the original £154 million development budget for Crossrail.

The Greater London Authority Transport Grant for 2005–06 has also been re-determined by the Secretary of State for Transport at £2,180.468 million. This re-determination increases the Government's grant this year to TfL by £19.453 million, and primarily reflects my Department's contribution to Crossrail costs in 2005–06, additional funding for TfL's Urban Bus Challenge projects in 2005–06, and the residual balance of the SRA's budget for the East London Line extension from 2004–05.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Fraud Inspectorate Reports

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. James Plaskitt): On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the BFI inspection reports on the following councils were published today: Ceredigion county council, Clackmannanshire council, Durham City council, Havant borough council, the Highland council (two separate reports), Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council, Thurrock borough council, West Devon borough council and Weymouth and Portland borough council. Copies have been placed in the Library.

The BFI reports detail a range of strengths and weaknesses in the housing benefit services provided by councils and make recommendations to improve the security and efficiency of benefit delivery.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering the reports and may ask the councils for proposals in response to BFI's findings.