HC Deb 13 April 1999 vol 329 cc13-4
9. Mr. Gareth Thomas (Clwyd, West)

If he will make a statement on rural bus services. [78824]

The Minister of Transport (Dr. John Reid)

Rural areas throughout Great Britain now have new or improved bus services as a result of the new money for rural transport announced in each of the last two Budgets. A total of £150 million over three years was provided for rural transport in last year's Budget, and that was increased by over £20 million in this year's Budget.

Mr. Thomas

That announcement is particularly welcome in the light of the Conservative party's mismanagement of rural transport.

First, does my right hon. Friend agree that, when public money is spent on matters such as rural transport, effective consultation is essential if services are to meet needs? That is certainly my experience in north Wales. Secondly, can my right hon. Friend give us some details of improvements in rural bus services?

Dr. Reid

I agree that consultation is essential. Indeed, local authorities, especially those that are taking the integration of transport and the provision of transport services for those in their areas seriously—the vast majority of which are Labour authorities—are an essential part of an integrated transport policy.

My hon. Friend asked what effect the grants had had. So far, 55 replies have been received to 73 questionnaires in an initial survey of English local authorities. They show that there are 578 new services, while the frequency or coverage of a further 744 has improved. That is a result of the extra money provided by a Labour Government. Furthermore, the £2.25 million allocated in 1998–99 under the Welsh rural bus subsidy grant scheme?—including £76,000 for Conwy and £91,000 for Denbighshire, both of which are in my hon. Friend's constituency—has resulted in improved and additional services.

Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley)

Many villages in my rural constituency will suffer further strain because of the lack of provision of places in schools. In Clitheroe, for instance, many youngsters will have to be bussed miles out of their area to attend neighbouring schools. Has the Minister had any discussions with the Department for Education and Employment to ensure that there is better planning in regard to school places, so that youngsters need not travel on buses for many hours and many miles in the morning just to receive a decent education?

Dr. Reid

We are, of course, grappling with our inheritance from the hon. Gentleman's party. However, we have not only discussed the matter with the Department for Education and Employment, but formed the school travel advisory group, which is examining it closely.

We are not always helped by Conservative councils throughout the country. For example, only in the past few days, in Norfolk county council—which I believe is the council that covers the area that is represented by the right hon. Member for South-West Norfolk (Mrs. Shephard)—there was a move to introduce 10 additional double-decker buses to moderate the market for school travel. Unfortunately, that was opposed by the Conservative group on the council. Thankfully, a combination of Labour and Liberal councillors managed to secure that service for local pupils and their parents.