MPs have warned that the arrangements for local decisions on transport spending from 2015 could work to the detriment of infrastructure in some parts of the UK

The House of Commons Transport Select Committee said too much money is spent on transport in London relative to other parts of the UK, citing figures from the Institute for Public Policy Research which show transport infrastructure spending is £2,500 per head in the capital compared with £5 per head in the north-east.

According to the committee, the new arrangements for securing financial support, which place more emphasis on competition for funding, will do little to improve matters and may well entrench this inequality. 

It says well-organised and well-resourced local enterprise partnerships will have an advantage when bidding for funds, while others will lose out. In addition, more money is likely to be wasted on failed bids.

Committee chair Louise Ellman said it is important for the Department for Transport to ensure that "strategically significant schemes such as access to ports don't get overlooked and that areas covered by a number of local enterprise partnerships do not miss out because of fragmentation".