Sarah Boyack said money would be spent on a range of projects but the majority has been earmarked for bus priority lanes in Scottish cities.

However, prior to the announcement, she denied that the Scottish Executive was pursuing anti-car policies.

The minister said the executive had received 20 funding applications for "good quality schemes" from Scottish councils, which would mean improvements to the provision of public transport services across Scotland.

Value for money

Glasgow will receive more than £6m of the allocation and other successful applications include a new Highlands ferry service and new runways on Orkney.

Ms Boyack said: "It's a large amount of money spread throughout Scotland and we are trying to get value for money this.

Sarah Boyack: "Giving people choices"

"So it means big investment on park and ride and bus services and it will mean a big difference for people on the ground when the money comes through."

The executive had not sought to freeze car drivers out and some schemes have been considered with motorists in mind.

"This is about giving people choices. Some of the schemes, particularly in Aberdeenshire, for example, are about park and ride, so it lets people use their car for part of their journeys and then it gives them a choice when they hit the congested areas," she said.

Some of the money has also been set aside for work on the proposed national transport timetable.

Ms Boyack said the public would be able to consult the timetable to find out what transport options are available wherever they are in Scotland.

Road deaths up

Meanwhile, new figures show the number of people killed on Scotland's roads rose last year.

A total of 385 people, eight more than in 1997, lost their lives in crashes.

Scotland's rate of 74 road deaths for every million people remains higher than that of England and Wales, although it is still 35% lower than the European average.

Road deaths have gone up

The cost to the Scottish economy is estimated at about £1bn.

Ms Boyack said: "I am very concerned to see that the number of deaths on Scotland's roads increased in 1998.

"We all have a responsibility to be more careful on our roads to ensure that such tragedies are avoided.

"On average, one person is killed every day, and a further 11 people are seriously injured, on Scotland's roads.

"These figures are not acceptable. I am asking all road users to work with us in the Scottish Executive to make our roads safer.

"There is much that we can do to reduce the chance of an accident occuring such as watching our speed, not driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, and not driving when tired."