§ Mr. Charles ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what definition of rural sparsity is currently applied by his Department for rural transport purposes. [52355]
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§ Ms Glenda Jackson"Rural Sparsity" has not been defined by my Department for rural transport purposes. However, the £32.5 million Rural Bus Special Grant recently approved by Parliament, will be distributed in proportion to the rural population in each eligible local authority area. 'Rural population' is defined as those living outside built-up areas of 3,000 people or more as shown by the 1991 census.