"We have been told that groups of Local Enterprise Partnerships and ‘other arrangements' may fill the transport gap left by the abolition of regional bodies. Yet many of these LEPs are either barely formed or have yet to be established. Arrangements for transport - we have learned - may not be in place until the end of this Parliament. This delay is likely to weaken decision making and widen the economic divisions between regions.

"The Coalition also needs a much stronger strategy for developing the UK's major ports and airports. Improving connectivity through these key international gateways simply does not feature prominently enough in the Government's current approach to transport investment and the economy.

"The Government must also do more to correct regional disparities in transport investment. Transport spending in London for 2008-09 was almost twice the UK average per capita and with schemes like Crossrail this trend looks set to continue. The economic recession has however had a bigger impact in the north so there is an urgent need for increased investment in transport schemes within and between northern cities - such as the Northern Hub rail scheme - in order to boost their capacity for economic growth.

"The Government must also do more to correct regional disparities in transport investment. Transport spending in London for 2008-09 was almost twice the UK average per capita and with schemes like Crossrail this trend looks set to continue. The economic recession has however had a bigger impact in the north so there is an urgent need for increased investment in transport schemes within and between northern cities - such as the Northern Hub rail scheme - in order to boost their capacity for economic growth."

The Committee also warns:

• The Government must make the appraisal and decision-making process for transport developments more transparent. It should also provide a formal statement about the regeneration benefits of proposed schemes.
• The DfT's ‘New Approach To Appraisal' process, which plays such a major role in deciding which transport schemes get Government funding, is highly controversial.
• Small schemes, including sustainable transport projects, may be cut disproportionately under new transport funding arrangements. It is unclear whether the Local Sustainable Transport Fund will reverse this trend.
• Short-term cuts to road maintenance may increase long-term costs.
• No one transport mode or type of scheme will deliver economic growth to every part of England. National government is not well placed to decide what is best for a local area and the Government should consider raising the threshold for government approval and appraisal of locally-determined transport schemes.