§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the outcome of his consultation on the fuel duty rebate; [155178]
(2) if he will give control of fuel duty rebate to those local transport authorities that have (a) a statutory quality partnership and (b) a quality contract scheme. [155179]
§ Mr. McNultyThe April 2003 Budget announced that the Government would continue work on the review of bus subsidies as part of the wider review of the Transport 10-Year Plan. This includes consideration of Bus Service Operators' Grant (previously called fuel duty rebate). Further work will be guided by the need to ensure that local bus services better meet the needs of local people and communities and make effective use of public subsidy to deliver public aims. The review of the Transport 10-Year Plan is being taken forward in parallel with Spending Review 2004, which is expected to conclude in the summer.