§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local bus passengers there were in each year since 1998–99 in(a) London, (b) English metropolitan areas, (c) English shire counties and (d) England. [125343]
25W
§ Mr. McNultyInformation on the number of local bus passenger journeys in each year since 1998–99 in each of the areas of England is published by the Department in Table 10 of "A Bulletin of Public Transport Statistics GB, 2002 edition". The publication is available in the Libraries of the House and on the Department's website at www.transtat.gov.uk/tables/ 2002/pts/pts.htm.
§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the public subsidy is for 2003–04 to local bus services for(a) London, (b) English metropolitan areas, (c) English shire counties and (d) England, separately identifying the (i) concessionary fare subsidy and (ii) fuel duty rebate. [125345]
§ Mr. McNultyLocal transport authorities make their own decisions on the amount to be spent on supporting local bus services and subsidising concessionary fares. No forecasts of the totals expected for the current year are available. However, the figures for 2001–02, the last year for which information is currently available, were:
Public transport support for local bus services1 £ million London 193 English met areas 122 English shires 138 Total England 453 1 Includes administration costs and expenditure met from the Department's grant schemes
Concessionary fares reimbursement (for local buses) £ million London 122 English met areas 194 English shires 131 Total England 447 Expenditure by my Department in the current financial. year on payments to bus operators in England of Bus Service Operators Grant (formerly called fuel duty rebate) is forecast to total £335 million, of which about £75 million is expected to be to London operators. No estimates are available of the split of this expenditure outside London between operators in metropolitan areas and shire counties.
§ Tom CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the financial assistance given by the Government to local authorities for the implementation within their areas of concessionary bus fares. [125500]
§ Mr. McNultyIn England about £450 million per year is spent by local authorities on concessionary travel by bus. That expenditure, along with other costs falling on local authorities, is covered by the contribution that the Government makes to local authorities through the annual grant settlement.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average number of passengers carried by a bus in general public service was in the last year for which figures are available. [125746]
26W
§ Mr. McNultyThe average number of passengers carried by a local bus in England was nine in 2001–02, the latest year for which a figure is available.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average number of passengers travelling at any one time on a bendy-bus was in the last year for which figures are available. [125747]
§ Mr. McNultyThe average number of passengers travelling at any one time on a bendy-bus in London is 24.