§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will seek to authorise local authorities to give rural bus operators financial assistance to operate bus services in areas where, in the judgment of the local authority concerned, there is urgent public need for a bus service and where they are satisfied that such a service cannot be run economically on a purely commercial basis.
§ Mr. James GriffithsThe financial problems of providing rural bus services are part of the general problem arising throughout the country of maintaining efficient public transport services, which my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport is considering.