HC Deb 24 March 1970 vol 798 cc1191-2
12. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Transport how many applications for special permits have been submitted to the Traffic Commissioners under Section 30 of the Transport Act, 1968.

Mr. Bob Brown

Fifteen, Sir. Ten of these applications have been granted and four refused, and one was withdrawn.

Mr. Mills

Is not that a very small number, and is not it a great pity? Surely the Minister will agree that the use of those small vehicles, or perhaps school buses, is perhaps one way of solving the rural bus problem? Will he encourage that in the future?

Mr. Brown

There is nothing in what the hon. Gentleman said with which I disagree. We give publicity to this. The main bus operators' associations know all about the terms, the traffic area literature mentions them, and so will the proposed rural bus grant code, which will be circulated shortly to the local authority associations.