§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in respect of the £50 million allocated in the 1998 Budget for rural bus services, how much has been spent, how much has been allocated but not yet spent, and how many extra bus journeys have run as a consequence of this extra money. [81264]
§ Dr. ReidOf the £50 million a year for rural transport in the United Kingdom announced in the 1998 Budget, £37.5 million a year was allocated for rural bus services in England. Final figures for actual spend in 1998–99 are not yet available but local authorities have previously estimated that they would spend £25 million in that financial year, reflecting the fact that less than a full year was available for spend.
412WResults from an interim survey of local authorities shows that by the end of 1998–99 over 550 new services are being operated as a result of the new finance, with a further 740 services improved in frequency or coverage. We are undertaking with local authorities a fuller survey of the results of the new funding. Data on the precise number of additional bus journeys are not available.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the rural transport partnership scheme. [81265]
§ Dr. ReidThe Government have provided £4.2 million per annum for the Rural Transport Partnership scheme. The overarching aim of the scheme is to promote social inclusion by enhancing rural transport services and securing a long-term improvement in the accessibility of rural people to jobs, services and social activity. The Countryside Agency is working to stimulate interest in the scheme and is providing advice to prospective partnerships. A number of schemes have been accepted for funding, and I look forward to seeing the fruits of these partnerships soon.