§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards providing each member of dial-a-ride with at least one trip a week.
§ Mr. PortilloI have just announced a £1 million increase in grant to London dial-a-rides for 1989–90. That is the fourth successive annual increase, amounting to over 70 per cent. since responsibility for funding was taken over from the Greater London council. The additional funds will enable the provision of more vehicles, more drivers and other improvements aimed at providing more trips and a better service for users. Precisely how many trips are generated depends on how efficiently the dial-a-ride local management committees use the resources which have been made available.
§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new dial-a-ride buses, excluding replacements, have been provided during the last year; and how many extra trips they have completed.
§ Mr. PortilloLondon dial-a-ride services are run by local voluntary management committees, funded by grant which is allocated by London Regional Transport. Details of vehicles provided, and the use to which they are put, are matters for them and London Regional Transport.