§ Mr. Foxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to encourage the provision of bus priority schemes in urban areas.
§ Mr. PeytonThe initiative must be with the local authorities, but I attach great importance to helping bus services in this way and I am prepared to make infrastructure grants available. The normal rate of grant will be 50 per cent. on the cost of roadworks and traffic signs 37W but certain principal road schemes will rank for 75 per cent. To be eligible local authorities will be required to spend £5,000 or more on bus priority schemes in their area in the financial year concerned.