§ Mr. Normantonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ease the financial burden placed on bus companies by the requirement to provide the additional bus services which are a condition of his consent to a rail closure.
§ Mr. PeytonThe Transport Act, 1968, saddled the National Bus Company and the Scottish Transport Group with the cost of additional bus services required as a condition of consent to a rail closure. This obligation represents a serious financial burden to these two companies, faced as they are by falling demand and sharply rising costs. The Government have decided therefore to contribute up to £450,000 in the current financial year towards the cost of the provision of these additional bus services by the National Bus Company and, should the need arise, the Scottish Transport Group. A summer Supplementary Estimate has been presented to the House. This will not affect the standing arrangements whereby the period during which these replacement bus services are subject to Ministerial control is normally limited to two years.