Mr Stephen Smith asked the Minister for Transport and Regional Development, upon notice, on 5 November 1996:

(1) Has the WA Government submitted projects for funding under the Blackspot program in 1997; if so, is a proposal for traffic lights at the intersection of Benara Road and Lord Street, Beechboro, WA, included in the projects.

(2) Has the federal Government allocated funding under the Blackspot program for 1997; if so, was a sum allocated for traffic lights at the intersection of Benara Road and Lord Street, Beechboro, WA; if not, when will funding be allocated and announced.

Mr Sharp —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) No, the WA Government has not submitted projects for funding under the Black Spot Program in 1997.

(2) Yes, the federal Government has allocated funding under the Black Spot Program for 1997.

The Minister for Transport and Regional Development wrote to the WA Minister for Transport, the Hon Eric Charlton MLC, on 15 October 1996 inviting participation in the Program and advising that the following notional allocation of funds had been made available to WA:

      1996-97—$m4.000

      1997-98—$m4.100

      1998-99—$m4.200

      1999-20—$m4.300

      Total—$m16.600

As no submission of projects for funding has been received at this stage, no allocation of funds to individual projects has been made.