§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public money has been paid to the Thames riverbus service; under what authority it was paid; what conditions94W were imposed; and what has been done to protect the public interest and to ensure that the service to the paying public is continued.
§ Mr. PortilloThe Government have not yet received a formal request for the first payment under the agreement governing their grant for the riverbus service. Grant will be paid under section 17 of the Ministry of Transport Act 1919. Payment of grant is limited to its application to the promotion and improvement of the service, and is conditional on payment of a private sector contribution of four times the grant and on the provision of appropriate management reports and accounts. The Government may terminate the grant agreement in the event that a regular service is not maintained to Charing Cross, Festival, Swan Lane and West India piers. The recent inauguration of new services to Greenwich and Greenland piers and suspension of the services to Cherry Garden pier are matters for the operator.