Transport: Finance
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what mechanisms are available to her Department to oversee, monitor and intervene in the use of transport funding provided to mayoral combined authorities through City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements and other devolved transport funding settlements.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood
The original CRSTS settlement letters, published in 2022, set out the programme framework, including the Department's monitoring arrangements and the ability to withhold funding where programme objectives were not being met. Under CRSTS and its successor programme, Transport for City Regions settlements, major or complex schemes that meet specified thresholds (retained schemes) remain subject to Departmental assurance and approval, including business case investment decisions.
For places receiving Integrated Settlements (I/S), the accountability framework has evolved further, with a greater emphasis on outcomes-based monitoring and assessment. Monitoring arrangements for I/S places are set out in the I/S policy document published here. Outcomes frameworks for GMCA and WMCA for 25/26 are published here: Integrated Settlements Outcomes Frameworks for 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK Outcomes frameworks for GMCA, WMCA, LCRCA, WYCA, SYMCA, NECA are published here: Integrated Settlements Outcomes Frameworks for 2026/27 to 2028/29 - GOV.UK
For places receiving Mayoral Transport Fund (MTF) allocations, funding remains subject to agreed conditions. Authorities are required to publish delivery plans, agree an outcomes framework with Government, and report regularly on progress against those outcomes.
Funding allocations may be adjusted or payments withheld where there are significant concerns about delivery or non-compliance with funding conditions.
These arrangements balance local decision making with appropriate assurance, accountability and value for money.
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