HC Deb 03 March 1978 vol 945 cc439-40W
Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the amount of transport subsidies not taken up by Derbyshire County Council for this financial year; and whether he will take steps to allow bus companies to obtain the benefits deriving from such subsidies, in view of the difficulties being experienced by the workforce in those companies where there is a shortfall in revenue.

Mr. Horam

In the transport supplementary grant settlement for 1977–78 my right hon. Friend accepted Derbyshire County Council's bid of £1.44 million for bus revenue support. In the council's latest TPP the estimated expenditure for that year is £1.07 million, though the final figure may be different. We attach high priority to the payment of adequate revenue support by county councils to bus operators, but have no power to compel this.