14:32 Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD)

One great thing about the headline story of the statement was the setting up of the £560 million local sustainable transport fund. The previous Government—Labour Members are noticeable by their absence—talked a very good game on green issues but destroyed their credibility with disastrous initiatives such as the third runway at Heathrow, which has now thankfully been jettisoned by the coalition. It is essential that a green thread runs through all Government policy if we are seriously to tackle climate change. We cannot rely on an occasional eye-catching idea here, an emotive piece of environmental rhetoric there, while business proceeds as usual. Local sustainable transport has a key role to play. If used correctly to support strong and well-designed bids, the fund will have a vital role to play in shaping our communities and reducing our reliance on expensive and unsustainable transport—but the Minister will realise that that is a big if. I have several questions to raise about how the Government intend to take the scheme forward.

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