§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of proposals by the Reading Borough Council to cut their level of support for the Readibus service for disabled people which will result in the curtailment of the service; and whether they will increase the level of grant under the urban aid programme to make good the cut.
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthThe Government are aware of the proposals by Reading Borough Council to reduce the level of supplementary support it provides 133WA to the Readibus service, in addition to the Urban Programme grant (of which the council provides 25 per cent.)
Urban Programme grant aid is normally intended to help new initiatives (which may later attract local authority support) rather than to take the place of support which a local authority is withdrawing. Any request for an increase in the Urban Programme grant would be considered on this basis and on its merits in relation to the criteria for the programme. Reading Borough Council would have to put forward an application for the grant, and be willing to provide 25 per cent. of any increase approved.