Rural Bus Services

HC Deb 09 May 1973 vol 856 cc111-2W

Mr. Woof

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants have been made each year by the Government since 1970 towards the cost of operating rural bus services, and what estimate he has made of the effectiveness of the grants in implementing the Jacks Committee report of 1961.

Mr. Peyton

As the Jack Committee recommended, the initial responsibility for determining the level of financial assistance for rural bus services rests with local authorities. Where such assistance is given the Exchequer pays half under Section 34 of the Transport Act 1968.

Since 1970 total Exchequer contributions have been:

		1970–71	1971–72	1972–73
		£000	£000	£000
England	…	11.4	272.3	487. 0
Scotland	…	0.2	74.0	281.4
Wales	…	1.3	52.5	102.9
Total	…	12.9	398.8	871.3

Rural bus services also benefit from fuel duty rebate and new bus grant.

The 1971 pilot studies of rural transport in Devon and West Suffolk confirmed the need for financial support under Section 34 and the Government will continue to encourage the use of these provisions by local authorities.