CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown has announced a 12% increase in transport funding per annum in the next three years in today's Government spending review.

The additional money, Brown said, was designed to tackle 'under-investment' in transport. Funding would increase from £7.7 billion this year to £11.6 billion in 2005/06, 'a 12% real terms increase'.

The primary aim of the investment is to further the Government's 10-year transport plan, introduced last April.

A key goal of the spending review is the funding of new 'strategic road schemes'. A total of 55 new schemes are being progressed under the plan. Around 100 more will be added in the next two years, it was revealed today.

Alistair Darling, Transport Secretary, said: 'This settlement will allow us to take forward the delivery of the Government's Ten Year Plan for Transport and the safe, efficient and reliable transport system the public demands.'

The spending review is the culmination of a series of consultations between the Treasury and other Government departments outlining how it plans to invest in public services for the next three years.