The Budget has outlined a number of proposals that will have an impact on the highways and transportation sector. Included in these are £100m for local road repairs and £285m for motorway improvements and expansion projects, such as allowing hard-shoulder running in busy times.

The Green Investment Bank is to invest in the low-carbon sector with a focus on new energy and transport projects.

The Government has also allocated a further £30 million from the Strategic Investment Fund in December 2009 to fund low-carbon transport schemes. Some of the first schemes to benefit include:

• the Technology Strategy Board’s competition to develop supply chains for low and ultra-low carbon vehicles;
• a new test centre in Nuneaton for future intelligent transport technologies, which could increase fuel efficiency and reduce congestion; and
• a second Green Bus competition to increase the number of low-carbon buses on the UK’s roads, subject to state aid clearance.

Education

A pledge of £270M one-off funding for 20,000 University places for 2010-2011 students pursuing STEM subjects
A commitment (first mentioned in the 2009 Pre-Budget Report) for an additional £200 million in 2010-11 to ensure that all 16 and 17 year olds are guaranteed a place in education or training

Full details on the policies outlined in the budget can be found here