Bus Demonstration Projects (Hansard, 28 January 1992)

§ Mr. Freeman

Supplementary credit approvals totalling £3 million are to be allocated to local authorities in England outside London for capital expenditure on measures to promote bus use in 1992–93. Table 1 sets out the detailed allocations. The Department will be writing to each of the authorities notifying them of the purpose for which approvals have been given. Up to a further £1 million is being held for schemes in London. Consideration is being given to projects in London in the light of the red route proposals and a further announcement will be made as soon as possible.

These allocations are in addition to acceptance of the Chester park and ride scheme for transport supplementary grant at a total estimated cost of £1.245 million which was announced on 19 December as part of the main transport supplementary grant and credit approval settlement for 1992–93.

I am pleased that local authorities are giving serious consideration to the role of the bus in helping to alleviate the problems of our urban environment. The allocations we have made will enable authorities to introduce a number of measures to promote bus use, including a range of bus priority schemes. We shall be monitoring some of the projects for demonstration purposes. I would like this to be the start of an ongoing programme and more resources are planned for this purpose in 1993–94.

I am also keen to encourage the use of low floor buses and to evaluate the possible part that clean fuel vehicles might play in meeting our future transport needs. We shall be writing to local authorities inviting them to put forward proposals for projects of this nature for which further supplementary credit approvals could be allocated.

Table 1
Local authority supplementary credit approvals for bus priority measures 1992–93
	£,000
Counties
East Sussex	225
Oxfordshire	200
Hampshire	20
Surrey	25
Avon	100
Norfolk	225
Leicestershire	70
Northamptonshire	100
Nottinghamshire	300
Lancashire	250
Cleveland	50
Metropolitan Districts
Birmingham	165
Coventry	50
Dudley	100
Walsall	70
Manchester	150
Salford	150
Oldham	100
Leeds	200
Sheffield	350
Newcastle	100
Total	3,000