§ 37. Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of his measures to improve rural public transport. [78852]
§ Dr. ReidMy Department has been conducting an initial survey of the use of the new funding for the support of rural bus services. Replies received so far from 51 local authorities (out of a total of 73 English authorities in receipt of the funding) show there are over 550 new services, with a further 620 improved in frequency or coverage, as a result of the first year of the funding. We will be carrying out shortly a more detailed survey with local authorities to provide a fuller assessment of the impact of this new funding at the end of its first financial year.