§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake to review the criteria for Transport supplementary grant funding of bus priority schemes.
§ Mr. FreemanConsultations will shortly begin with the local authority associations about the transport policies and plans circular for 1992–93. The references in the circular to bus priority schemes and their eligibility for transport supplementary grant and credit approval will be covered in these consultations.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had concerning the funding of bus priority schemes.
§ Mr. FreemanI recently chaired a working group comprising the Bus and Coach Council, the local authority associations, the police, bus manufacturers and the National Federation of Bus Users during which the funding of bus priority schemes was discussed. The group endorsed the statement I made on 16 December announcing the provision of at least £10 million over the next two years to fund specific local authority bus schemes.