These figures are revealed today in a written answer to an MP from Tom Harris, parliamentary under-secretary at the Department for Transport.

He said:

"The majority of expenditure on cycling is committed by local highway authorities who receive funding from the Department [for Transport] through the Local Transport Plan settlement and it is for them to determine their priorities."

English authorities outside London spent £34.1m on cycling in 2005-6.

Harris said:

"The Department does not require local authorities to provide an estimate of future spend on cycling so no data are available for 2006-07 and 2007-08. TfL though have informed the Department that they forecast £24.1 million will be spent on cycle facilities in 2006-07 and £36.1 million in 2007-08."